''She Came to the Valley'' is a western-genre film, shot in 1977 and released in 1979. Directed by

Albert Band Albert Band (May 7, 1924 – June 14, 2002) was a French-American film director and film producer. He was the son of artist Max Band, father of filmmaker Charles Band and of film composer Richard Band and the grandfather of Alex Band, Taryn Ba ...

, it stars

Ronee Blakley Ronee Sue Blakley (born August 24, 1945) is an American actress, singer-songwriter, composer, producer and director. She is perhaps best known for her role as the fictional country superstar Barbara Jean in Robert Altman's 1975 film ''Nashville ...

, Scott Glenn,

Freddy Fender Freddy Fender (born Baldemar Garza Huerta; June 4, 1937 – October 14, 2006) was an American Tejano, country and rock and roll musician, known for his work as a solo artist and in the groups Los Super Seven and the Texas Tornados. He was best ...

, and

Dean Stockwell Robert Dean Stockwell (March 5, 1936 – November 7, 2021) was an American actor with a career spanning seven decades. As a child actor under contract to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, he first came to the public's attention in films including ''Anchors A ...

. It is based on a novel by Cleo Dawson.

Background

The film is a western set in 1915. It is based on one of Cleo Dawson's novels that was written in 1943. The title of the novel was, ''She Came to the Valley: A Novel of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mission Texas''. It is said to be based on her mothers experiences. The film was shot in South Texas's Rio Grande Valley, but a small portion was shot in Oklahoma. In its first run it broke weekend attendance records at Rio Grande theatres.

Later years

About three decades later in July 2008, there was a reunion with some of the cast having a party at the Mission Historical Museum.

Story

A poor family that leaves Oklahoma for Texas are persuaded by a drifter to move to the valley. It is discovered that the drifter is a supporter of the revolutionary leader

Pancho Villa Francisco "Pancho" Villa (, Orozco rebelled in March 1912, both for Madero's continuing failure to enact land reform and because he felt insufficiently rewarded for his role in bringing the new president to power. At the request of Madero's c ...

. The family become involved in a dispute between Pancho Villa's men and the government soldiers. Her husband later dies and she finds herself the subject of attention by a man called Bill who she learns is a gun runner for Villa. Pancho Villa was played by Freddy Fender.

Other

In January 1979, Maria Luz Corral de Villa came to McAllen, Texas, a south border town to see Kika de la Garza, to present him with a pardon request for her late husband to be exonerated for his actions against the United States. Ms de Villa who at the age of 84 was in frail health arrived by air ambulance. She was assisted by aide Sol Marroquin. Marroquin, the author of ''Part of the Team (Story of an American Hero)'' also played the part of Colonel Vaccaro in the film.Rotten Tomatoe
Sol Marroquin
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Cast

... Willy Westall *

... Pat Westall * Scott Glenn ... Bill Lester *

... Pancho Villa * Anna Jones ... Amara Westall * Jennifer Jones ... Srita Westall * Rafael Flores Jr. ... Benito Torres * Les Brecht ... Phil Allen * Frank Benedetto ... Captain Hernandez * Sol Marroquin ... Colonel Vaccaro *

Evelyn Guerrero Evelyn Guerrero is an American retired actress who starred in various movies and television series from 1969 to 1999. She is best known for portraying "Donna" in three ''Cheech and Chong'' movies. In 1980, Guerrero became the first Latina to p ...

...Connie * Ruth Reeves ... Miss Thirty Six * Claus Eggers ... Klaus * Detlev Nitche ... Zimmer * Michael Hart ... Henry * Dan Willis ... Mr. Courtnay * John Hayes ... Mr. Wright * Jesús Sáenz ... Mr. Torres * Juanita Rutledge ... Mrs. Torres * Cindy Klein ... Rosita * Miriam Moroles ... Carmella * Martin Sanchez ... Grandfather * Cedric Wood ... Sergeant Williams * Robby Romero ... Pepe * Mary Alice Artes ...Fanny *

Frank Ray Perilli Frank Ray Perilli (August 30, 1925 – March 8, 2018) was an American screenwriter with more than 15 screen credits, and a playwright of four stage plays. He began his career as a standup comic in the mob-controlled nightclubs of Chicago’s No ...

...Emilio * Cruz Quintana Jr. ... Mexican boy, carpenter assistant * Cleo Dawson ... Christmas party guest * W.T. Ellis ... Christmas party guest * Maurine Duncan ... Christmas party guest * T.L. Duncan ... Christmas party guest * Elizabeth S. Wimberly ... Christmas party guest * Lucy Wallace McClelland ... Christmas party guest * Peggy Price ... Christmas party guest * Frank Strickland ... Christmas party guest * Pat Putnam ... Christmas party guest * Betty Lerma ... Christmas party guest * Jacquelyn Band ... Christmas party guest * Kathe Cunha ... Christmas party guest * Yolanda Gonzáles ... Christmas party guest * Richard Tedrow ... Christmas party guest * Curtis Davis ... Christmas party guest * Dorothy K. Breyfogle ... Christmas party guest * Claudio Flores ... Christmas party guest * Lenora Flores ... Christmas party guest * Minerva Black ... Christmas party guest * Stella Garcia ... Christmas party guest * Cora De La Garza ... Christmas party guest * Marc Perilli ... Christmas party guest * Ken Broughton ... Bartender

References

{{reflist

External links

She Came to the Valley at Imdb
1979 films 1979 Western (genre) films Films set in the 1910s Films directed by Albert Band 1970s English-language films