Duelo en la cordillera

I enjoyed this entry in the Durango Kid series. I just cannot stand Smiley Burnette and his silly antics that add nothing to this story or any others he's been in.

Charles Starrett is back as Steve Holden/The Durango Kid and he's ready to clean up the reservation from golddiggers Fred Sears and his henchmen Rory Mallison and Zon Murray.

As a fan of the B-Western I have to admit the later Durango Kids are among my least favorites. The early Durango Kid's were entertaining though often a little stilted."The Durango Kid" and "Return of the Durango Kid" are entertaining B-westerns. And for the singing cowboy fans check out Bob Wills in two good Durangos, Lawless Empire and Blazing the Western Trail.

Which brings us to this film. This was one the last of the Durango Kid series. While Charles Starrett conveyed an amiable, likable screen persona, to me he always seemed more like the Family Insurance Agent than an Western Movie Star. Also by this time Starrett was a little long in the tooth for the role of the Durango Kid. At almost 50 he seemed more suited for the role of the Durango Kid's father. Fred Sears, who directed most of the later Durangos plays the lead heavy. and Jock Mahoney gives us his best impression of an Indian Brave as Swift Eagle. Smiley Burnette is also along for the ride and contributes the comic relief with his zany antics.

By this time harsh economic reality was setting in on the movie studios. With a run time of 54 minutes, it feels like this one was produced, directed and edited with the heart of an accountant. The studio penny-pinching really shows through. Just not a lot to recommend here. This one is for die hard Durango Kid Fans only.

Markham and his men have found gold on the Indian reservation and are trying to get rid of them by starting an Indian war. Dressed as Indians they are attacking the soldiers. Steve Holden is the Indian agent sent to prevent a war. After finding proof that white men posing as Indians were responsible, he is able to locate the gang's hideout but quickly becomes a prisoner slated to be killed.

A passable Durango Kid entry that symphasises with Indians, a trend that started with Broken Arrow and would carry on throughout the '50s. Charles Starrett plays the masked rider/Steve Holden with his usual inimitable style and always came across as sincere, and to me, he's the ultimate western star. Jock Mahoney does well as a white man brought up by Indians and is suitably angry. Smiley Burnette is over the top as usual and can be annoying at times. After all, he is required taste.