It was coproduced by Soviet Union (where it was released as Krasnye kolokola, film pervyy – Meksika v ogne), Italy (where is known as Messico in fiamme) and Mexico (where its title is Campanas rojas).

It is the first of a two-part film centered on the life and career of John Reed, the revolutionary communist journalist that had already inspired Warren Beatty's Reds.

[1] This chapter focuses on Reed's reportage about the 1915 Mexican revolution.

Two peasant armies, led by Emiliano Zapata in the south and Francisco "Pancho" Villa in the north, fight intense battles as they advance toward the capital, held by the forces of dictator General Victoriano Huerta.

Amid the chaos of war, an American journalist, John Reed, arrives at the northern front to interview the revolutionary leader Pancho Villa.