Adapted from a novel by Gerald Drayon Adams, Wings of the Hawk stars Van Heflin as Irish Gallegher, an American mining engineer working in Mexico. When his gold mine is confiscated by the local government, Gallegher aligns himself with a renegade group of insurrectionists, led by Arturo (Rodolfo Acosta). What follows is one perilous situation after another, usually involving explosions and chunks of debris flying at the camera, the better to show off the film's 3D camerawork. In addition, Gallegher finds time for a romance with firebrand lady outlaw Raquel (Julia Adams) and local senorita Elena (Abbe Lane). Lifting Wings of the Hawk above the norm is the always-inventive direction of Budd Boetticher.