The Blocked Trail

Republic Studios made fifty one shoot-'em-ups based on characters created by novelist William Colt MacDonald who based his on characters by Alexandre Dumas). The Three Mesquiteers were dedicated to the proposition "One for all and all for one." Republic made several mix and match outings of the indomitable trio of cowboys. The one most remembered consisted of Bob Livingston (as Stony Brooke), Ray Corrigan (as Tucson Smith), Max Terhune (as Lullaby Joslin). At one time even the Duke himself was a Mesquiteer. The trio for "Blocked Trail" was the final lineup and it was a good one: Bob Steele (as Tucson Smith), Tom Tyler (as Stony Brooke), and Jimmie Dodd (as Lullaby Joslin). The trio consisted of a dashing tall man on a white horse who at times provided the romance, a gunslinger, and a comic.

Bob Steele was not only a fine actor but a feisty pint-sized fighter, known for his speed and agility. Tom Tyler made his presence known both by appearance and by his deep commanding voice. Jimmie Dodd was actually funny; plus he was a man of many talents. One wonders why Republic didn't capitalize on his musical ability. Dodd was a renowned songwriter (he wrote the official song for the District of Columbia), guitar player, and singer. Disney later chose him to lead "The Mickey Mouse Club."

"Blocked Trail" was one of the last of the Three Mesquiteers films. The title is a good one, though still somewhat generic. That there is a lot of humor in this picture doesn't lessen the action. Republic made sure of that. The chases in particular are well done with plenty of excitement and dare-devil stunt work.

The story centers around a little horse named Brilliant. When Lullaby is informed about the horse's three feet (meaning height), he replies, "How does it get around? On crutches?" The owner, a blind hermit,'Mad' Martin, is murdered for his gold. No one knows where his gold mine is, not even his daughter, except the little horse. So everyone, the good guys and the bad guys, seeks to capture Brilliant. Needless to say, many times the "seeing-eye" horse makes jackasses out of those trying to corral it and often steals the show. The viewer doesn't get a good look at the killer, though he's not that hard to figure out as the story progresses.

Of note in the comedy department is the inclusion of a fake Indian, Chief Plenty Harvest, played by the ultimate con artist Earle Hodgins. Like so many character actors, viewers will recognize his face (even disguised as an Indian) though possibly not his name. Hodgins was the first to popularize the expression, "Go away, son, you bother me." Usually he's not all that funny by today's standards, more obnoxious than humorous, but in "Blocked Trail," especially toward the end when he often slips into speaking plain English instead of a phony Indian lingo, he is hilarious.

Helen Deverell who plays the part of Mad Martin's daughter comes across as a rough and tumble cowgirl who is always being rescued by the Three Mesquiteers but not without protest. One wonders why no romantic relationship was written in for her and Stony. She had a very brief movie career. In "Blocked Trail," she shows a lot of potential.

Though not up to par with some other Three Mesquiteers oaters, this one still works for the fans and the humor works most of the time too.

Having only seen a handful of Three Mesquiteer movies with Tom Tyler as Stony, Bob Steele as Tucson, and Jimmie Dodd as Lullaby, "Blocked Trail" proves to be the best yet in ingenuity and humor which would later influence films like "The Shadow of the Cat" from 1961.

The three men are on their way to a job when Lullaby gets sidetracked by an Indian (a snake-oil salesman, no less) who claims to be dying of thirst and in turn, hands him a valuable map that can lead him to a gold mine. Frequently considered the dimmest of the Three Mesquiteers, Lullaby falls for it, and brings it to the attention of his saddle mates when all of a sudden they are approached by a number of people at different times asking them if they have seen a miniature horse. A miniature horse would not be hard to spot, of course, but unknown to the three heroes, Lullaby is also witness to her owner's murder.

"Blocked Trail" moves at a steady pace, unlike some of the Three Mesquiteer movies by RKO which can be blah ("Raiders of the Range" comes to mind). It is not just the stunts but the humor, mystery and intrigue – including the scenes which show the entire case from Brilliant's point of view – which makes this a highly recommended movie. Tom Tyler, Bob Steele and Jimmie Dodd are all in top shape, and as usual, get mistaken for committing the crime and spend a few hours in jail before they escape. Unlike the latter "The Shadow of the Cat", however, we do not see Brilliant taking matters into her own hooves and attempt to knock off the person who shot her master. Add to the mix the fact that Brilliant was training to be a seeing- eye miniature horse, and you have a well-spent hour of Three Mesquiteer viewing for a Saturday afternoon.

Tom Tyler, Bob Steele, and Jimmie Dodd play those three knights of the west the 3 Mesquiteers in this film. The guys are accused of murdering a blind old prospector Charles Miller who lived as a hermit in the hills. His only companion was a pony named Brilliant. And I have to say that this is one smart horse. He's the only witness to who killed Miller.

In fact Brilliant is trained as a seeing eye pony, a fact that comes in mighty handy later on in apprehending the real murderer.

Earle Hodgins and Ellen Lowe play a pair of Indians who drive a medicine show wagon and they're taking back the west from the white man one sucker at a time. The two are very funny and Hodgins always adds something to any picture, especially westerns he plays in.

You might become a 3 Mesquiteer fan after seeing this one.