She Came to the Valley

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She Came to the Valley
Directed byAlbert Band
Screenplay byFrank Ray Perilli
Albert Band
Story byCleo Dawson
Based onShe Came to the Valley: A Novel of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mission Texas
by Cleo Dawson
Produced byAlbert Band
StarringRonee Blakley
Dean Stockwell
Scott Glenn
Freddy Fender
CinematographyDaniel Pearl
Edited byLaurence Jacobs
Music byTommy Leonetti
Production
company
R.G.V. Pictures
Distributed byR.G.V. Pictures
Release date
January 1979 (Texas)
Running time
92 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

She Came to the Valley is a western-genre film, shot in 1977 and released in 1979. Directed by Albert Band, it stars Ronee Blakley, Scott Glenn, Freddy Fender, and Dean Stockwell.[1] It is based on a novel by Cleo Dawson.[2]

Plot[edit]

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.[3] The family become involved in a dispute between Pancho Villa's men and the government soldiers.[4] 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.[5] Pancho Villa was played by Freddy Fender.[6]

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

The film is a western set in 1915.[7] It is based on one of Cleo Dawson's novels that was written in 1943.[8] 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.[9] The film was shot in South Texas's Rio Grande Valley, but a small portion was shot in Oklahoma.[10] In its first run it broke weekend attendance records at Rio Grande theatres.[11]

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.[12] Marroquin, the author of Part of the Team (Story of an American Hero)[13] also played the part of Colonel Vaccaro in the film.[14]

About three decades later in July 2008, there was a reunion with some of the cast having a party at the Mission Historical Museum.[15]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Billboard February 24, 1979 Page 71 Country, Nashville Scene by Sally Hinkle
  2. ^ Films in Review, Volume 36 Page 43 Dean Stockwell
  3. ^ The Movie Lover's Tour of Texas: Reel-Life Rambles Through the Lone Star State By Veva Vonler Page 72 Chapter 3
  4. ^ Second Edition - Western Movies: A Guide to 5,105 Feature Films By Michael R. Pitts Page 308 3813, '"She Came to the Valley
  5. ^ Turner Classic Movies Overview, Brief Synopsis
  6. ^ Rotten Tomatoes She Came to the Valley (1977)
  7. ^ México visto por el cine extranjero: 1894 By Emilio García Riera Page 109 8120/1. ?/ SHE CAME TO THE VALLEY
  8. ^ The Movie Lover's Tour of Texas: Reel-Life Rambles Through the Lone Star State By Veva Vonler Page 72 Chapter 3
  9. ^ Texas Women Writers: A Tradition of Their Own Edited by By Sylvia Ann Grider, Lou Halsell Rodenberger Page 12
  10. ^ Shot in Oklahoma: A Century of Sooner State Cinema By John Wooley Page 238
  11. ^ Billboard February 24, 1979 Page 71 Country, Nashville Scene by Sally Hinkle
  12. ^ The Day January 11, 1979 Page 33 Pardon asked for Pancho Villa By Ken Herman
  13. ^ WorldCat Part of the team : story of an American hero (published in 1979)
  14. ^ Rotten Tomatoes Sol Marroquin
  15. ^ The Monitor Friday, July 18, 2008 'She Came to the Valley' reunion coming up

External links[edit]

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