El Húsar de la Muerte () is a 1925 Chilean silent film directed by and starring Pedro Sienna. The movie depicts the adventures of guerrilla leader Manuel RodrÃÂguez during the Reconquista, culminating in his death in 1818.
The film had its premiere in Santiago, Chile on 24 November 1925.
The movie begins after the Battle of Rancagua in 1814, where the royalist forces defeated the Chileans. Despite their victory, Manuel RodrÃÂguez sends a note to the royalists warning them that their reign will soon end, and freedom is near. The patriots are inspired when RodrÃÂguez visits them and informs them of his plans to meet with San MartÃÂn in Mendoza to discuss their next steps.
Upon returning, RodrÃÂguez defeats two Talaveras soldiers, which alarms the royalists, especially Captain Vicente San Bruno. To avoid being caught, RodrÃÂguez disguises himself and falls in love with Carmen de Aguirre, daughter of the Marquis of Aguirre.
RodrÃÂguez recruits patriots to fight for their independence, including "el huacho pelao," a boy who decides to join the rebellion. Meanwhile, the royalists are in pursuit of RodrÃÂguez, but he manages to elude them.
RodrÃÂguez enters Governor Francisco Casimiro Marco del Pont's house in disguise and steals some documents with the help of "el huacho pelao." The governor offers a reward for anyone who captures RodrÃÂguez, and one of his men betrays him. However, RodrÃÂguez discovers this before the authorities arrive.
The royalists corner RodrÃÂguez at the Aguirre estate, where he is wounded and taken care of by Carmen. When Captain San Bruno interrogates him, RodrÃÂguez defeats him in a sword fight. He bids farewell to Carmen before leaving for Mendoza to give San MartÃÂn the stolen documents.
The movie ends with subtitles detailing subsequent events such as the Battle of Maipú and O'Higgins' rise to power. A scene shows a soldier narrating RodrÃÂguez's death to his friends, who then bury him.
Director Pedro Sienna selected the cast from people that he found on the street. The film was considered lost until 1959, when it was found in deplorable condition and with some title cards incomplete, but thanks to Pedro Sienna's own supervision, the film was restored in 1962 by Cineteca de la Universidad de Chile, with music by Sergio Ortega (with the Chilean government help).