Drifting cowboy pals Dare and Dinkey (John Wayne and Syd Saylor) head into Wyoming, where they first pick the wrong side in a battle between rustlers and the folks after them and then get a less-than-enthusiastic welcome from Dare’s cousin Tom (Johnny Mack Brown), who is a settled ranch owner and contemns Dare’s irresponsible ways. Though Dare first plans to travel on, a chance meeting with Judy, Tom’s girl, prompts him to stay and take a job with Tom (albeit initially a humiliating one), and he is soon competing with Tom for her attention. Interesting characterizations and plot developments for the leads in the movie contribute some tension. Who will get the girl? And is Dare really the best poker player west of the Mississippi, or will his appetite for gambling ruin all that he is aiming to achieve? Can he actually abandon his footloose ways? Monte Blue is menacing as a conniving schemer, and the rest of the supporting cast does fine, too.

Note: The movie was re-released in 1950 by Favorite Films under the title Hell Town, which was the title on the print I watched.

  Recommended. Otto finds this one pleasing enough to relax.

Movie 70 for 2021.