Morgan (George Chesebro), part owner of a freight outfit, frames his partner, Dan Parks (Jim Bannon), for smuggling government gold. Parks escapes arrest and becomes a fugitive, and it’s up to the Durango Kid (Charles Starrett) to clear his name and bring the real culprit to justice. Smiley Burnette is on hand with his comedy …
Read the full post →“<em>Trail to Laredo</em> (Columbia, 1948)”
Django (Terence Hill) uses trickery as a hangman to rescue innocent men being executed. He forms them into a gang to get justice on the crooked men who murdered his wife, but some of the members of the group have other ideas. Watchable revenge tale, originally titled Preparati la bara! Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks …
Read the full post →“<em>Django, Prepare a Coffin</em> (1968)”
Personable Johnny Mack Brown is a ranger called in to help Sheriff Ed Lowery (Lyle Talbot) and Wells Fargo agent Ben Williams (Marshally Bradford) by investigating the robbing and murder of Wells Fargo riders carrying gold. He clashes with town tough guy Chet Murdock (Myron Healey, who also penned the screenplay). After he is targeted …
Read the full post →“<em>Colorado Ambush</em> (Monogram, 1951)”
An ex-sheriff (Lee Van Cleef) who lost his job because he wouldn’t acknowledge a prisoner’s guilt helps that prisoner, Philip Vermeer (Alberto Dentice), foil his pursuers, bounty hunters and the Saxon brothers (Horst Frank, Klaus Grünberg, and Marc Mazza), as they all head toward a final battle and the revelation of just who murdered the …
The earnest charm of Guinn “Big Boy” Williams provides some appeal in this story of a young man out to avenge his rancher father’s murder and pursuing a black-hooded figure that would fit well in an “Old Dark House” mystery. Gaping plot holes (e.g., what was up with the servant’s apparent attempt to poison the …
Settlers are gunned down by crooks pretending to be Indians, but the two sons survive, with the elder vanishing into the brush while laughing hysterically. Years pass, and the former renegades are now respected citizens, but they are meeting their doom at the hands of the title character, whose face can be glimpsed in the …
After the murder of his father and the theft of $60,000, young Bob Neal (Bob Steele) and pal Rusty (John Elliott) search for the killer, and they find a clue in the town of Gladstone. Unfortunately, Bob has been blamed for the robbery of the stage and is suspected of murdering local rancher Jim Bowers …
A chilling opening in which a cowboy, Randy Bowers, finds a tavern filled with dead men sets up a good early movie for John Wayne. Bowers (Wayne) investigates the killings, aided by the daughter (Alberta Vaughn) of one of the victims, who even helps Randy to escape jail when he is arrested for the murders …
Read the full post →“<em>Randy Rides Alone</em> (Lone Star / Monogram, 1934)”
Lullaby Joslin (Syd Saylor) and his buddies, veterans of the First World War, head west to homestead, but the Canfield brothers want the land for themselves and are intent on thwarting the would-be farmers. It’s up to Syd’s pals Stony Brooke (Robert Livingston) and Tucson Smith (Ray “Crash” Corrigan) to take the part of the …
Read the full post →“<em>The Three Mesquiteers</em> (Republic, 1936)”
Family is at the center of this Durango Kid outing, as Sheriff Jeff Clinton (George Chesebro) and outlaw Black Murphy (Steve Darrell) are grandfathers to a young girl (Anita Castle) who plays an important part in the plot, both as welcome family and as target for a villain. Steve Rollins (Charles Starrett) initially is helping …
Read the full post →“<em>West of Sonora</em> (Columbia, 1948)”
