The 1942 film "Tortilla Flat" is based on the novel of the same title by California author John Steinbeck. A group of Paisanos (people of Spanish or Italian background) live in Monterey, California. Monterey is a seaport which had a large fishing industry at the time the film is set (1930's). These Paisanos like to drink wine and do not like to work. This group is headed by Pilon, who is somewhat of a bad character. He even sometimes tries to swindle his friends out of money. Danny is a hot tempered younger man who has been seeing a pretty girl named Dolores or "Sweets." The Paisanos discover that a local hermit named "The Pirate" may have a hoard of over 1,000 quarters (US 25 cent coins). Pilon attempts to get Pirate to turn over the money to him. Stacks of quarters are shown in scenes where Pilon and his group are counting the quarters.

The film begins with a prologue:

The Pacific Ocean and the city of Monterey:

A peaceful scene to set up the film. Fortune has smiled on the Paisanos as Danny has inherited two houses and his friends are living in one.

Danny Alvarez, Pilon, Pablo, and Tito Ralph. The poster on the wall of the woman holding a sword is from a solicitation for the World War I American Committee For Relief in the Near East - Armenia-Greece-Syria-Persia

Danny has been seeing Dolores, but she puts him off as he has little money and no prospects. The men spend lots of time watching.

A local man comes by accompanied by some dogs.

The man is a hermit who lives outside of town and is called "The Pirate." He lives with several dogs whom he considers his friends and whom he talks to. Pirate is very religious and is a devotee of the animal-loving St. Francis. He makes a little money by cutting wood and then selling it in town. Pilon tells the others that Pirate has been selling wood for three years, each day earning a quarter (25 cents), does not spend any money, and therefore must have a hoard of three times 365 quarters (approximately 1095 quarters or $274). Pilon calls the coins "two bitses" after the old name for a quarter "two bits." Pilon visits the Pirate and convinces him that it is safer to live with the men at Danny's house than to live alone in the woods.

Pilon also convinces the Pirate to bring his money.

The men set the money on the table in stacks.

Dozens of stacks of quarters appear on a table.

The men count the money and come up with $250 and $17. The pirate tells them that he has been saving the money to buy a gold candlestick and donate it to the local Catholic Church in thanks to St. Francis for healing his sick dog. The men no longer want to steal the money but decide to outfit Pirate for his appearance at the Church when he gives the candlestick. At the Church the priest thanks him for his donation and gives a talk on animals. Pirate's dogs then enter the church and immediately go to him.

Danny, to impress Dolores, takes a job on a fishing boat. Dolores warms up to him, but when he visits her at the cannery where she works, the manager tells him to leave. Danny returns to the cannery, gets in to a fight with the manager, and is seriously injured and taken to a hospital. Pilon blames himself for Danny's situation and walks out of town.

He goes near the Pirate's cabin and watches the Pirate and his dogs.

The Pirate is telling the dogs a story of St. Francis and Pilon has a vision.

Pilon visits the Church and prays to St. Francis asking for Danny to recover. Pilon returns to town and takes a job cutting squid.

The priest visits Danny and is amazed to see Pilon working. Pilon's prayers are answered, Danny recovers, and marries Dolores.

The remaining Paisanos head for the house.

The film ends with the Paisanos homeless again.

Spencer Tracy as Pilon
John Garfield as Daniel Alvarez
Frank Morgan as The Pirate
Hedy Lamarr as Dolores Ramirez
Director: Victor Fleming
Writers: John Lee Mahin, Benjamin Glazer, John Steinbeck (novel)