User Reviews

Second string studio, Republic Pictures, made many D-grade westerns over the years, although a few A listers squeezed their way in over the years, mostly those starring John Wayne in the 1940's and early 1950's. This is closer to "A" grade than "B", "C" or "D", mainly because it features a more involved script than normal, a believable conflict, and contract stars who worked in various genres other than westerns. Two future TV stars, Forrest Tucker and Jim Davis, are partners in a popular town saloon, but a falling out has made Davis decide to cash out and leave, especially if he can wed the pretty widowed Adele Mara who is in town to discover the truth about how her brother, an apparent rogue, was killed, and why. Son Peter Miles finds the town bullies beating him up simply because of who his uncle was. The mystery of how and why also involves the sultry Estellita Rodriguez, the saloon singer who was involved with the deceased. But as the engagement between Davis and Mara gets closer, details are revealed about him that sets former friend Tucker off on the trail for the truth and leads them all to a dangerous conclusion at the edge of a cliff where all is revealed.

In the lower grade westerns, there's never a plot as detailed as this, because many of the smaller details are always left out to keep the running time at just an hour, sometimes even less. Showing two westerns or one western and one mystery or one western and a horror film running a total of two hours got the kiddie audience in on Saturday afternoons, so for a bigger budgeted picture like this, they were usually shown later in the day while the double bills dominated the late morning and early afternoon shows. There's some light comedy relief in this from Charles Kemper as a cynical sheriff whose deadpan reactions to the goings on adds a lightness to the film that is a nice change over the grizzled hero sidekicks in most B westerns. Mara is a strong heroine, standing up to the villain without fear, and young Miles gives a very good performance as her very brave son. Tucker and Davis are quite a contrast to each other as well as their later TV roles, with Tucker more grizzled on "F Troop" and Davis more commanding as Jock Ewing in the first few years of "Dallas". This might not be a classic like "High Noon", but it is definitely worth a discovery!

The story begins with a heart-pounding sequence. Adele Mara plays a European immigrant traveling to California with her youngest brother (Peter Miles), when they are separated from the rest of their wagon train and ambushed by natives. Fortunately, they are aided by a man (Forrest Tucker) riding the range. He prevents the boy from being sliced open by a hatchet-wielding savage, for which the woman is entirely grateful.

Before she and her brother have a chance to get more acquainted with the man, he heads back to the nearest town. She and the boy travel on alone in their covered wagon.

In the next sequence, it is revealed that Tucker is a co-owner with Jim Davis in a saloon called The Golden Bear. Davis wants the business all to himself, so he prods a gunslinger with a temper to fire on Tucker. Tucker successfully defends himself, and the other man ends up dead. Interestingly, the slain gunman is the older brother of the immigrant woman and boy seen at the beginning of the story. He had owned a share in a local gold mine.

The plot goes in a few expected and unexpected directions. The woman and the younger brother come to town to claim their inheritance. A romantic triangle develops as Davis competes with Tucker for the pretty lady's affections and the approval of her kid brother. During these scenes, there is some commentary on how outsiders have trouble adjusting to life in this bustling community. Plus, the sheriff is depicted as a man with questionable morals whose badge can be compromised if he is given enough money to look the other way.

Meanwhile, a saloon singer (Estelita Rodriguez) wants revenge for the recent killing, because she was in love with the victim. It all may seem familiar to western fans, but there's considerable action and suspense, and it leads to a final sequence pitting Davis and Tucker against each other on a steep ledge. The friendship of the two actors gives their scenes an extra dimension despite the tenseness of the standoff.

At a nearby distance, the woman and the boy wait to see who will live and who will die. Eventually, one of the bodies falls off the ledge and the other one is hanging on to a rope. Quickly the sheriff and his deputies raise the survivor back up to safety. The point of the story seems to be that newcomers to the frontier will never consider going back, because after they've passed through to California, there is nothing like a life of western excitement.