She Came to the Valley

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. It is based on a novel by Cleo Dawson.

Plot
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. 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.

Cast

 * Ronee Blakley ... Willy Westall
 * Dean Stockwell ... Pat Westall
 * Scott Glenn ... Bill Lester
 * Freddy Fender ... 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 ...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 ...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

Production
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.

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.

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