AllMovie

The title refers to a family of bandits, the terror of the Brazilian countryside. During one of their raids, the Cangaceiros kidnap comely schoolteacher Olivia (Maria Prado). Falling in love with the girl, Teodoro (Alberto Ruschel), one of the bandits, helps her escape. The rest of the film is a prolonged chase, with Olivia and Teodoro desperately attempting to evade the clutches of wrathful bandit chieftain Ferreisa (Milton Ribiero). Though dramatically uneven, O Cangaceiros is consistently well-photographed (by H. E. Fowley) and directed (by Lima Barreto); the traditional musical score is another plus.