Copyright 12 August 1947 by Universal Pictures Co., Inc. New York opening at the Rialto: 30 June 1947. U.S. release: July 1947. Never theatrically released in the U.K. Australian release: 27 November 1947. 5,999 feet. 67 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Undercover agent bests stagecoach bandits.
COMMENT: The main appeal of this film is CineColor. Despite its limited color range, its pastel tones are so attractive here, every frame of the movie is a pleasure to look at. Margaret Lindsay of course adds to that pleasure, even if her new upswept hair style makes her less recognisable. Paula Drew is also a winning lass, the villains - particularly Arthur Hohl's crooked sheriff and Jack Lambert's surly Ben - are heavy enough to please most fans (Bob Wilke has no dialogue but he can be spotted now and again helping to balance out the background compositions), and Andy Devine is along for a bit of mild yet agreeable comedy relief.
Hero Jon Hall handles his chores in his usual competent if colorless manner, whilst the action spots are helped out by a couple of great stunts. The plot is entertaining enough and it all comes to a satisfactory final free-for-all.
Veteran serial director Ray Taylor had moved to Universal after being fired from Republic's The Painted Stallion. When Universal discontinued its serial line-up in 1946, Mr Taylor was obviously at a loose end. This is the last film I have for him, though he may have directed some more in the "B" class before his death in 1952.
All told, by "B" standards, this is a creditable effort, nicely paced, attractively photographed and at times vigorously staged. The sharply-edited, many-angled stagecoach rescue is as thrilling as a top serial highlight, whilst the spectacular climactic fall through the balcony is one of the best stunts we've ever seen in the double-bill western.
OTHER VIEWS: Perennial good girl Margaret Lindsay is a slightly shady saloon lady in this fascinatingly CineColored western. She even has a jaunty song, though her singing voice is doubtless dubbed. Otherwise she fills her role agreeably enough, though most viewers will have their eyes on Andy Devine who does his usual sterling job of turning thin material into more humorously substantial cloth.
COMMENT: The main appeal of this film is CineColor. Despite its limited color range, its pastel tones are so attractive here, every frame of the movie is a pleasure to look at. Margaret Lindsay of course adds to that pleasure, even if her new upswept hair style makes her less recognisable. Paula Drew is also a winning lass, the villains - particularly Arthur Hohl's crooked sheriff and Jack Lambert's surly Ben - are heavy enough to please most fans (Bob Wilke has no dialogue but he can be spotted now and again helping to balance out the background compositions), and Andy Devine is along for a bit of mild yet agreeable comedy relief.
Hero Jon Hall handles his chores in his usual competent if colorless manner, whilst the action spots are helped out by a couple of great stunts. The plot is entertaining enough and it all comes to a satisfactory final free-for-all.
Veteran serial director Ray Taylor had moved to Universal after being fired from Republic's The Painted Stallion. When Universal discontinued its serial line-up in 1946, Mr Taylor was obviously at a loose end. This is the last film I have for him, though he may have directed some more in the "B" class before his death in 1952.
All told, by "B" standards, this is a creditable effort, nicely paced, attractively photographed and at times vigorously staged. The sharply-edited, many-angled stagecoach rescue is as thrilling as a top serial highlight, whilst the spectacular climactic fall through the balcony is one of the best stunts we've ever seen in the double-bill western.
OTHER VIEWS: Perennial good girl Margaret Lindsay is a slightly shady saloon lady in this fascinatingly CineColored western. She even has a jaunty song, though her singing voice is doubtless dubbed. Otherwise she fills her role agreeably enough, though most viewers will have their eyes on Andy Devine who does his usual sterling job of turning thin material into more humorously substantial cloth.