THE TREASURE OF MONTEZUMA (1968) ***

The Treasure of Montezuma is a direct sequel to Operation ’67.  This time out, an international crime ring is out to steal the titular treasure.  It’s up to secret agents/wrestlers El Santo and Jorge (Werewolf) Rivero to bring them to justice.  

Directed by the legendary father/son team of Mexican cinema, Rene Cardona and Rene Cardona, Jr., The Treasure of Montezuma is yet another El Santo flick that was riding on the coattails of the success of the James Bond films.  There’s a Bond-style opening credits sequence, silly gadgets (like a freezing gun, exploding earrings, and lapel pins that double as cameras), and sexy women aplenty.  (Including a set of twins!)  While it never quite kicks into fourth gear, it’s consistently entertaining throughout.

Rivero looks like he’s having fun as El Santo’s womanizing partner, and you can’t blame him for having fun when the woman he’s womanizing is the always alluring Maura (The Batwoman) Monti (who would’ve made an amazing Bond girl at the time if given the opportunity).  He brings a different energy to the role than say, Blue Demon would’ve as he makes for a solid romantic lead.  (He kinda reminded me of Erik Estrada at times.)  Rivero also does a credible job in the wrestling ring as his tag-team match with El Santo is one of the highlights.  (El Santo also gets a solo match against an opponent known as “The Bear” later in the picture.)  

The rest of the action is fairly strong.  It helps that El Santo seems to get into fisticuffs with random henchman at the end of nearly every reel change, so at least the pacing is steady.  One memorable tussle occurs at a bullfight where El Santo tosses a goon into the bull pen, and he is promptly gored by a charging bull.  There’s also a big (well, bigger than usual) action set piece involving exploding airplanes and boats, although the ensuing climax isn’t quite as satisfying.  

Overall, The Treasure of Montezuma isn’t as out-and-out nutty as some of El Santo’s best films, but it should fit the bill for fans of both low budget Bond knockoffs and Mexican wrestling cinema.