Does anyone have knowledge of a bull fighter named Luis Castro (El Soldado)?

Question

During World War II, my father worked in Brownsville, Tx. in a shipyard. My brother and I were in the second grade. My mother took us to a bullfight in Matamoros. None of us had ever seen such an event, and I admire my mother's adventurous spirit since she was not a reckless person. I recall how well we were treated.

Although I was afraid to look for a while, the featured torrero performed so that he was awarded several trophies and was carried around the ring on other torrero's shoulders. I knew that he was called El Soldado, and some time later he acted in an American film using that name. the credits gave his actual name, Luis Castro. This was a long time ago but it is the way I remember it. The film may have been Blood and Sand. A classic long ago.

I now recall others present in Tijuana in 1956 when el Nino de la Palma performed. They were Kirk Douglas, Arlene Dahl, Gilbert Roland (a native of Mexico) and Rory Calhoun.

Thank you for remembering. -- Jerry

Answer 1

The film was "The Bullfighter and the Lady (1951, Republic films).  I'm sure if you could google some Mexican websites - you'd get more info on Luis.  

I found this bit in Mexican Wiki....but I don't speak or read Spanish....It sounds as if he is the primo matador along with another gentleman and that they inaugurated the opening of the bull fighting ring in Mexico City.  .

Plaza de Toros México - De Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre.  La Plaza México (nombre oficial) es la plaza de toros de mayor aforo en el mundo, y está considerada junto a la Plaza de Toros Monumental de Las Ventas de España y la Plaza de Toros Monumental de Valencia en Venezuela, como las más importantes del mundo.  

Plaza México - Inaugurada en 1946 por Luis Castro El Soldado, Manolete y Luis Procuna, que lidiaron toros de San Mateo. El primer rabo lo cortó Silverio Pérez, el 16 de febrero de 1946, que actuaba mano a mano con Manolete. Orejas y rabo a "Barba Azul", toro de la ganadería de Torre- cilla.