It’s California in 1849. Nineteen year old Joaquin Murietta, his brother Jesus and his bride Carmella venture from their family ranches near Los Angeles to try their luck in the gold fields. When Jesus is accused of stealing a horse and is hanged by the rough Gringoes, and Carmela is gang raped and commits suicide, Joaquin swears vengeance. Bilingual and a master of disguises, he seeks out and destroys his enemies – and every bandit in California takes his name. The California Rangers, led by Captain Harry Love, are created to take him “dead or alive.”