Filmed in 1977 & released until 1980; Director/writer Ruben Galindo just had to bring another famous corrido to life for the big screen after the huge success he had with La Banda Del Carro Rojo. It was only natural to bring a corrido by Los Cadetes De Linares to life which is Los Dos Amigos ("2 Friends"). Los Dos Amigos was the corrido that Los Cadetes had become so famous for and it was also their first hit single when their popularity began in the mid-1970’s. The corrido is very emotional & machismo since it is about 2 fearless friends. Surely a song like this would make a great movie, que no?
Jose & Martin are 2 friends getting away from their hometown of Mapimi, Durango in route to Texas for a new life out there and the way they’re getting there is by stealing. They first steal a car, then 2 horses from an old rancher, they then rob a train and end up fighting some gunmen whom hassle a couple helping out Jose & Martin. Once Jose & Martin arrive in Texas, they begin to work with a drug boss named Ben (Eduardo Noriega) and their line of work is to guard & load in shipments of drugs coming from the other side of the border. It all seems to be going well at first and Jose even begins a relationship with Ben’s gorgeous daughter Mapy (Sandra Duarte), but alas—this criminal lifestyle brings in much trouble for everyone.
The wonderfully machismo corrido Los Dos Amigos was written up into a screenplay by Ruben Galindo and he of course added much charm & drama to it and it worked out fairly well, especially with the casting of Valentin Trujillo & Pedro Infante Jr as the 2 friends. The movie of course includes plenty of exciting gun-firing action and the one near the end is pretty wild. A must see. Another great aspect in the movie is having Los Cadetes De Linares appear in the movie and performing some of their best songs which starts off with Los Dos Amigos then "El Palomito" and "Una Lagrima Y Un Recuerdo" is featured in a great scene with Valentin Trujillo’s portrayal of Jose feeling heartbroken after running into a former girlfriend. Even the manliest of men can feel glum & yearn hard.
Ruben Galindo’s best action-crime movie is for sure La Banda Del Carro Rojo, but Los Dos Amigos is right next to it because it features a pair of badass characters, exciting gun-firing action and for the plot to be based off a very popular corrido is truly special. A definite must see for fans of the corrido and generally anyone curious. They just don't make them like this anymore!
A rough english translation of the lyrics to Los Dos Amigos.
"They were two friends who came from Mapimi.
They robbed Guanacevi because they came with nothing.
They had two horses,
A dark one and a bright one.
On the dark horse they carried clothes and the money on the bright horse.
They also brought good machinery with them. To unnail & change the rails.
Martin tells Jose:
Don't be yellow.
We're going to rob the train that's coming from Vermejillo.
I'm not being yellow. Yellow is my color.
I've robbed many big trains just like it.
Oh gracious Santo Niño (Holy Infant of Atocha), they’ve captured Jose.
At the corner of the market, they tied him up but he managed to escape.
Perhaps It was prayers,
the prayers his mother would give him.
Or was it simply just good luck that Jose was never harmed."
