When eventually he is caught, he is tried seven times before finally being released, after twelve years in prison.

[7] Janet Maslin of The New York Times said, "[The film] tells what sounds like a stirring story, and its plainness would seem to be an asset.

What it's missing is the spark, surprise and immediacy that might have made its principals feel like people, rather than key figures in a well-meaning historical pageant.

"[4] Rosanna DeSoto won the Golden Eagle Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film.

[8] The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez was preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2016.