Where to Watch El charro del arrabal (1949)

Summary

This film by famed Director Juan Orol, is also known by various "Americanized" titles, such as "Suburban Cowboy", and "Cowboy of the Slums". It features Orol's wife at that time and favorite muse, the lovely Rosa Carmina, who plays "Rosa", a lively cabaret entertainer who's last lover was a small-time gangster recently killed by the police. On the rebound and still heart-broken by his untimely death,Rosa meets a new, handsome bad-boy by the name of "Pancho Dominguez", otherwise known as El Charro lel Arrabal and nicknamed "Maldito" (aptly played by actor Jose Pulido). Despite her initial misgivings and feelings of grief, Rosa and Maldito soon enter into a turbulent romance that would likely be considered as rather abusive, chauvinistic and even sexist by today's standards. Pulido's character is a former cattle rustler turned mobster who extorts payments from the area's cantinas and other businesses in exchange for his protection and assurance that they may continue to operate as usual. Concerned by a municipal political candidate's campaign promise to rid the town of such criminals, "Maldito" offers his help and powers of persuasion to the opposing candidate,named Don Tiburcio. After winning the election, Tiburicio is initially grateful for "Maldito's" assistance. Nevertheless. this newly elected politician soon demands that "El Charro" stop taking money from his constituents. In a last-ditch effort to "comply" with this request, Pancho and Rosa go on a romantic getaway together, not knowing what to expect when they return. Oddly, this movie contains more musical numbers than action scenes. In addition, this cinematic effort has often been considered as a "prequel to Orol's cult-classic. "Gangsters Contra Charros" (released a few months before the El Charro del Arrabal film). It also stars Rosa Carmina and Jose Pulido.