The Eagle and the Hawk is a 1950 American Western film directed by Lewis R. Foster and written by Lewis R. Foster and Daniel Mainwaring. The film stars John Payne, Rhonda Fleming, Dennis O'Keefe, Thomas Gomez, Fred Clark and Frank Faylen. It was released on May 30, 1950, by Paramount Pictures.
In 1863, governor of Texas Francis Lubbock asks Todd Croyden of the Texas Rangers to free a Union Army spy from a Confederate camp. Lubbock is helping France, which is trying to seize Mexico. Guns and ammunition are being stolen in Corales, so the governor wants Croyden and the spy, Whitney Randolph, to investigate. Croyden does not like Randolph, who wins his horse and harmonica by gambling while on the trail.
While crossing the Rio Grande, they are held at gunpoint by Madeline Danzeeger, whose wagon is stuck. After helping her, they learn that a former German army officer also named Danzeeger, likely her father, is working with Mexican general Liguras for a great deal of money. Croyden locates the missing munitions at Basil Danzeeger's ranch, but foreman Red Hyatt is suspicious of him. Croyden and Randolph set a fire to destroy the gunpowder, but Madeline, who is Basil's wife, takes them prisoner. Hyatt tries to kill Croyden by tying him to two wild horses, and Randolph dies while saving him.
Madeline has a change of heart, having fallen in love with Croyden, and is shot by her husband. Basil and Liguras fight to the death but Madeline will recover from her wound.
Pine-Thomas Productions was so pleased with the film that it sought to reteam Payne, Fleming and O'Keefe in more films as a series.