Der Bandit von Wyoming

Interestingly for this routine B-feature, the usual "Three Mesquiteer" characters are not really at the centre of the plot. The story belongs more to 'Red' Barry ("Parker") whose father has been deceived by a crooked politician and so his son ends up having to steal to feed himself and his family. It's when he pinches a cow from Messrs. Wayne, Corrigan and Hatton that the story starts to hot up a bit and, of course, they try to redress the balance for him and his sister "Irene" (Pamela Blake). It's takes a while to get going, this one - but once the scenario has been defined, it moves along nicely with a little more chemistry between Wayne and his female co-star than we are used to. "Ming" himself, Charles Middleton appears sparingly as the hard-done-by father, and LeRoy Mason is adequate - though nothing more - as "Balsinger" - the devious villain of the piece. The film aims squarely at some of the "New Deal" policies of post WWI US governments where opportunists frequently ended up with the whip hand over those who had worked hard during the war feeding the troops, but whose services were now surplus to requirements and they were left very vulnerable to pretty ruthless exploitation.

Although the acting on the part of some of the supporting cast is a bit raw what I really liked it how real the outlaws looked, scraggly hair and beards, missing teeth, etc. Just wondering if that's how they look in real life??? Some of them look as though they really are outlaws or maybe homeless people they found on the street. The special affects were especially cheesy but probably and innovation at the time. Such as the snow, isn't that what our TV screens look like when the cable's out? This is one of the first John Wayne black and white's I have seen since my beginning days of watching his movies. I would rate this as my second favorite in the black and whites.

Three Mesquiteers film starring John Wayne, Ray 'Crash' Corrigan, and Raymond Hatton making his series debut replacing Max Terhune. Actually the real star of this one is Don 'Red' Barry as a Dust Bowl cowboy driven to crime by a crooked politician (LeRoy Mason) who's ruling over the poor townsfolk like a dictator. Barry rustles cattle from the Mesquiteers and, instead of stringing him up, the trio decides to help him. This is an enjoyable picture in the series, with Barry giving a standout performance, Yakima Canutt doing stunts, and John Wayne awkwardly dancing with Pamela Blake. Nice support from Charles Middleton, Katherine Kenworthy, and Elmo Lincoln. Climax almost packs a punch but the impact is ruined by immediately rushing into a slapped-on attempt at a happy ending. Why would a character who just lost someone they loved two seconds ago be smiling and happy?

An American Western; A story about a trio of cowboys who bring their herd to a Wyoming town and end up investigating local political corruption when a thief is subjected to wicked deception. This 'B' movie, set during the Great Depression, is based on characters known as "The Three Mesquiteers" from a series of Western novels by William Colt MacDonald and billed as such for a series of films. Each episode would blend the traditional Western period with the topical issues of the day. This installment is based on a well-publicised real-life incident about a would-be modern Robin Hood who escaped the law and, while hiding in the Wyoming hills, was shot by a citizen. The story is trite, a routine oater, though more serious in tone for the series. John Wayne makes it a show with his feisty persona, albeit from a reduced on-screen presence, and Don 'Red' Barry is compelling as a hopeless, desperate outlaw. The ending is abrupt and spoils what is a good final act.

Will Parker has been destroyed by a local politician and now must steal to feed his family. He steals a steer from the Three Mesquiteers.

Usually a Three Mesquiteers series is snappy and fun but this instalment is poignant and grim. It's backdrop is the dust bowl period. The three Mesquiteers try to stop a crooked politician and prevent a kid - a victim of corruption- from turning into an outlaw which turns into a tragic event. Don Barry as the outlaw acts really well. It's an efficient western, but the least fun. I prefer the mesquiteers in the thick of things, fighting the bad guys, and I like a happy ending.