Down Laredo Way

I just watched this western again having had seen it a long time ago. It now stands as one of my favorites. Some westerns are the same old thing as far as plots go, but this one is one of a kind. All the actors were excellent. Clayton Moore is one of my favorites and he did his part very well. Having had played the "Lone Ranger" for such a long time, he came across as a totally different character in the part. His voice is such a giveaway though. No-one can match that voice.

I guess being of the age that I am (59) and grew up with westerns that good "B" westerns are hard to come by. When I moved to Arizona I got into the movie business and ended up working on westerns. I started on "Death Valley Days" and ended up working on Hi Chapperal, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and at least 180 various other movies. Even though I know all the methods and secrets of movie making now, I still will watch as many as I can because its a part of my life. My favorites are still westerns and when you see a movie like "Down Laredo Way" it re-ignites the desire to look for the best of those days. This one gets a "10"

Who would have thought that this little "barely-B" western with singing cowboy Rex Allen would be so well-written, directed and acted? Many enjoyable and familiar actors here, including Clayton Moore, Donna Drake, Marjorie Lord, etc. The climactic fight between Lord and Drake includes some pretty vivid slugging as well as the more expected hair-pulling. One of my favorite character players, Percy Helton, gives a terrific and hilarious performance as a fake "judge" hoping to get his hands on some smuggled diamonds. And speaking of fights, you haven't lived until you have seen the fist-fight between Helton and Slim Pickens! This little movie is a darn good way to spend a spare hour.

Down Laredo Way is a fun, exciting and at times funny western from Republic's later days that benefits from master serial/western director William Witney and a likable cast; the heroic Rex Allen, comical sidekick Slim Pickens, beautiful and hilarious Dona Drake, adorable Judy Nugent and Clayton Moore (without his mask) just to name a few. A good diamond mystery, humor, suspense, a beautiful gypsy girl, and plenty of action! All that and much more in 54 minutes. Unbelievable!!! Watch it!!

The wedding plans of high wire duo Chip Wells (Clayton Moore) and Valerie (Marjorie Lord) go awry when their tent is broken into by bad guy Cooper (Roy Barcroft). Wells soon discovers the reason for the break-in, his bride-to-be is smuggling diamonds. As luck would have it, Cooper and his boss, Judge Sully (Percy Helton) have been tipped off that Valerie is packing stolen glass and try to cut themselves in on a piece of the action. Wells then takes it upon himself to secretly hide the diamonds inside his young daughter Taffy's (Judy Nugent) doll.

But this is show biz and despite the attempted larceny, the show must go on. Wells, so upset by his fiancé's involvement in such an untoward scheme, is unable to maintain his composure and during their high wire act falls abruptly to his death, leaving daughter Taffy a ward of the court, which is presided over by Judge Sully. Taffy already leery of her would-be step mother packs her bags,complete with the diamond stuffed doll, and takes off. Soon our heroes, Rodeo Star Rex and his sidekick Slim (Slim Pickens) are on the trail to save Taffy and reclaim the doll with the stolen diamonds.

Great action pacing by veteran director William Witney and an interesting B-Western supporting cast make this one of Rex's most enjoyable films. Prolific Western bad guy Roy Barcroft adds kidnapping and accessory to doll mutilation to his already impressive villainous resume. Dona Drake as gypsy Nartita and Percy Helton as mentally unbalanced Judge Sully round out the cast. Majorie Lord, in her pre "Make Room for Daddy" days, adds to the action with a knock down drag-out fight with Drake.

One of Rex Allen's best.