Randy is in a complicated situation. He is a Captain(Porter) in the Union occupational army in Reconstruction Texas. But, he is a Texan himself, although pro-Union during the war. Thus, he finds his duty to uphold what amounts to swindling of the Texans by carpetbaggers often distasteful. Along with newly arrived Cpt. Hodges, he is charged with rounding up the Westman gang of Texans, who have held up cotton wagon trains owned by the carpetbaggers Standish and Balfour, and are accused of the murder of an informant. Unfortunately, Randy and Cpt. Hodges are sometimes at odds in strategy in capturing the gang. Later, they come to blows over Hodges' romantic interest in Randy's wife, played by Phyllis Kirk. She is unhappy in their present situation, being ostracized by most of the Texans.
Balfour knifes the informant on the Westman gang in the back to regain the reward money just given him. Westman is blamed for this murder. The body was pinned with a note indicating this, but Randy doesn't believe it. Standish witnessed the murder, but is afraid to tell about it. Westman, when cornered, gives himself up to Randy on the promise that he will get a fair trial for the murder. But, orders are soon received by the army commander to hang Westman without a trial. Standish is kidnapped by the Westman gang and held for exchange of Westman. Randy tries to find a way to prove Westman is innocent of the murder and agrees to go to the gang's hideout as a civilian to talk to Standish. But, just as Standish is about to spill the beans on the real murderer, he is accidentally shot by Cpt. Hodges, who is trying to shoot Randy, as an army deserter. See the film to find out how Randy brings a happy conclusion to this mess.
This is pretty much a hard-driving drama, with few light moments, other than the stripping of the hated carpetbaggers by Westman's gang. Randy lacks the light-hearted sidekicks, budding romances and nightspot scenes that provided a better balance of duty and relaxation in the film "The Man Behind the Gun", released the same year. Nonetheless, it is a good historically plausible story and provides enough complexities to maintain the viewer's interest.
Since this film was made, our idea of the pervasiveness of carpetbagger corruption and opportunism has undergone a revision, recognizing that these have been overemphasized. Many carpetbaggers were ex-union soldiers, who remained in the South after discharge. A glaring anomaly I noticed was the lack of any African Americans or Mexicans in this community. Possible, but unexpected. I must say that Lex Barker, as Captain Hodges, showed a striking physical resemblance to a middle-aged John Travolta. For those used to seeing Fess Parker as Davy Crocket or Daniel Boone, it will be a novelty seeing him as a murdered member of the outlaw gang.
Balfour knifes the informant on the Westman gang in the back to regain the reward money just given him. Westman is blamed for this murder. The body was pinned with a note indicating this, but Randy doesn't believe it. Standish witnessed the murder, but is afraid to tell about it. Westman, when cornered, gives himself up to Randy on the promise that he will get a fair trial for the murder. But, orders are soon received by the army commander to hang Westman without a trial. Standish is kidnapped by the Westman gang and held for exchange of Westman. Randy tries to find a way to prove Westman is innocent of the murder and agrees to go to the gang's hideout as a civilian to talk to Standish. But, just as Standish is about to spill the beans on the real murderer, he is accidentally shot by Cpt. Hodges, who is trying to shoot Randy, as an army deserter. See the film to find out how Randy brings a happy conclusion to this mess.
This is pretty much a hard-driving drama, with few light moments, other than the stripping of the hated carpetbaggers by Westman's gang. Randy lacks the light-hearted sidekicks, budding romances and nightspot scenes that provided a better balance of duty and relaxation in the film "The Man Behind the Gun", released the same year. Nonetheless, it is a good historically plausible story and provides enough complexities to maintain the viewer's interest.
Since this film was made, our idea of the pervasiveness of carpetbagger corruption and opportunism has undergone a revision, recognizing that these have been overemphasized. Many carpetbaggers were ex-union soldiers, who remained in the South after discharge. A glaring anomaly I noticed was the lack of any African Americans or Mexicans in this community. Possible, but unexpected. I must say that Lex Barker, as Captain Hodges, showed a striking physical resemblance to a middle-aged John Travolta. For those used to seeing Fess Parker as Davy Crocket or Daniel Boone, it will be a novelty seeing him as a murdered member of the outlaw gang.