The Magnificent Matador

Karen Harrison (Maureen O'Hara) is a spoiled, rich American predator who falls head-over-heels for the brooding, tormented, about-to-retire matador Luis Santos (Anthony Quinn) who has inexplicably run away prior to a corrida that was to occasion the "alternativa" of a young, up-and-coming bullfighter Rafael (Manuel Rojas). She goes out of her way to see him as Luis prays at a church shrine the night before his bullfight. He has a nightmare that night of a disaster. Out of the blue, he decides to attend the drawing of the bulls. She is introduced to him and apologizes for intruding at the church. Karen and her escort Mark seem to be at odds as she leaves. As the Matador dresses in his suite, he suddenly surprises all by changing into street clothes and abruptly leaving. Karen sees him in the garage and she follows in her convertible sports car. He sees her following and pulls over, confronting her. She tells him his fans are going mad at his absence. She offers a refuge and tells him to follow her. He follows her to her expansive home. She serves him some requested tequila. He observes she has his likeness in a bullfight painting. Walking at night, they are caught in a downpour and seek refuge in the stable. She suddenly kisses him but he seems to walk away. Drunk, he later confronts her in her bedroom. He kisses her, but she doesn't respond, and he leaves her room. Horseback riding the next day, he joins her but she is still smarting from a an insult he paid her last night. She relates the first time she saw him fight, he was gored by the bull, but faced the bull afterwards with courage and dignity. After that experience, she left the city and said became afraid, bored with her life. When she returned to the city, he had departed. She tells him their recent meeting at the shrine was an accident, but their meeting was always intended. He then kisses her. Her estranged escort Mark and another couple arrives at her home. There is some tension at their introduction to the Matador and continues as Mark impugns his recent absence from the bullfight. This leads to a fistfight. Mark is quickly asked to leave. To get revenge, he then advertises the Matador's secret location. Luis and Karen then depart for a friend's rancho where he raises bulls. Karen has secretly arranged a reunion with Miguel, his valet (Mozo de espadas) (Eduardo Noriega) and friend. On horseback, she watches as they gather the bulls from the range. She falls from her horse and is saved from a charging bull by Luis. She refuses to leave the pasture until he has fought the bull. Luis is finally able to share he left the bullfight recently because he had seen a premonition of death for his youthful competitor, Rafael, not for himself. He shares that Rafael is actually his illegitimate son, who is now motherless. He felt responsible for her death, which occurred after his goring when she gave birth prematurely, and then died. He arranged for the boy's adoption. Luis had never told Rafael about being his father. She encourages him to resolve things. He meets Rafael in a restaurant. Rafael surprises him by being aware of their relationship and they embrace as father and son. Luis is then seen dressing for a bullfight. He prays at his hotel room shrine. Karen is there also to wish him well. She stays behind in the room and also kneels, praying at his shrine and expresses fear. On the way to the bullring, Luis passes by Mark at the stable. Mark punches the Matador, who graciously asks the guard to escort Mark to his seat. His son is there as a matador also. A disgruntled fan hits his son with a thrown object. His father picks up the object and goes out to kneel in front of the bull. His son tries to intervene, but his father tells him to wait. After he fights the bull, he allows his son to fight the bull, giving him a tip. At the end, as Luis hands the sword to his son for the finish, Rafael dedicates the bull's kill (estocada) to Luis, the "number one." Luis then acknowledges to the crowd his son's paternity. Luis and Karen at ringside watch proudly as Rafael finishes his bullfight.