Wild Horse Mesa

Tim Holt and Richard Martin are working for Jason Robards Sr. And his daughter, Nan Leslie. They are collecting mustangs for sale and training. But Harry Woods has other plans....

Holt's third B western after returning from war service is, like the first two, based on a Zane Grey story; his father had starred in the first movie version in 1925, and Randolph Scott in the second. With almost the same cast as the previous two movies, Holt's version is more of a standard western, although cinematographer Frank Redman delights in offering some unusual shots, like a crane shot of a fist fight. Like most of Holt's B westerns, it's a solid one, and sure to please his fans. With Tom Keene and Frank Yaconelli.

Two cowboys go to work for a rancher and his beautiful daughter. Together they search for wild horses. When they find the horses, a rival rancher offers to purchase them, but during the transaction he murders the good rancher.

Tim Holt was a reliable western star, came across natural,straight to the point as evident in Wild Horse Mesa, based on a Zane Grey novel, and it's a good one that is full of action,great fights and a panoramic view of the landscape and a horse round-up and stampede. Chito lends a good support.

This western has Tim Holt and Richard Martin working for Nan Leslie and her father Jason Robards, Sr. rounding up wild horses. But we have to deal with two villains in this film. Perennial western villain Harry Woods buys the horses from Robards and then Robards kills him. Tom Keene who had been fired by Holt and Robards earlier sees Robards do it and they become partners of convenience.

The third party in this story is the wild horse who leads the herd who Tim Holt would love to tame. But after abuse from Tom Keene, Holt heals the stallion and the stallion gets to pay Holt back big time in the final showdown with the villains.

Tim Holt was always a good no nonsense cowboy hero and Richard Martin as Chito Rafferty is always amusing and has a few good notes to sing as he practices wooing yet another senorita. That was always the interesting twist. Tim was all business and had no time for romance for the most part whereas sidekick Chito was always getting involved in every film.

Holt's westerns hold up for the most part and Wild Horse Mesa is still good entertainment.