Pirates of Monterey 1947

In 1840, California is under Mexican rule. Captain Phillip Kent [Rod Cameron] is transporting rifles from Mexico City to California to support the troops there. When Marguerita Novarro [Maria Montez], a wealthy aristocrat, and her maid are rescued after their carriage breaks loose, Kent guides them to safety. The women hide and ride with Kent’s caravan to Santa Barbara. Although Marguerita can pay, Kent declines remuneration in exchange for the first dance at a festival. As romance blossoms, the caravan continues north to Monterey, where Kent is reunited with an old friend, Lt. Carlos Ortega [Phillip Reed], only to learn that Ortega is engaged to Marguerita.

An attack by Royalists leaves Ortega seriously injured. Manuel De Roja [Neyle Morrow] is taken prisoner by Kent and turned over to one of Ortega’s men, but the officer in charge turns out to be Manuel’s own brother, Major De Roja [Gilbert Roland]. Now in love, Marguerita and Kent try to leave Monterey together but are captured by De Roja’s men. A jealous Ortega is captured as well; after an escape, Kent kills Major De Roja in a sword battle. Mexico’s soldiers rout the royalists, and a grateful Ortega blesses Marguerita and Kent’s union.