Watch Alvarez Kelly

Set in the Civil War, and based on a true occurrence, Kelly is a Mexican cattle rancher with little interest in the war until he makes a deal to drive a heard of 5,000 cattle to Virginia. When approaching the end of the drive, he and the herd are captured by Confederate troops. They need the beef to feed their troops in Richmond.

Kelly is prevailed upon to deliver the herd to Confederate rather than Union troops, teaching them how to drive the cattle. Kelly uses the situation to help the Confederate leader's apprehensive lover escape a Union blockade.