El Paso Stampede

Federal Marshal "Rocky" Lane (Allan Lane) saddles up Black Jack to go to the Mexican border to investigate cattle rustling during the Spanish-American War He gets a job with feed-merchant Nugget Clark, and discovers that Nugget's wizened little helper, Josh Bailey has been giving cattle shipment information to the town dentist, Mason "Doc" Ramsey. Ramsey happens to be the secret leader of the rustlers headed by Floyd Garnett. When Ramsey and Garnett steal some of Nugget's cattle feed, Rocky follows them to their hideout through a waterfall into a hidden valley. The outlaws have kidnapped Alice Clark.

Sadly, the last Rocky Allan Lane western with him in the lead, and a good note to end on. All his westerns are fast-paced, exciting with some comic turns from Eddie Waller as nugget and this one is no different. However, there's a few interesting things such as a dentist being a villain and that Lane works in a store. It's got some good stunt work, exciting shootouts and a wagon going over a Cliff.

Allan Lane wound up his movie career as a cowboy hero going undercover as a clerk in Eddy Waller's store where he both romances Phyllis Coates and works to find out who is behind some cattle rustling. Not ordinary cattle rustling mind you, but rustling in time of the Spanish American War, cattle intended to be army beef for the troops in Cuba. Lane's an army captain working undercover.

I might have rated El Paso Stampede a bit higher but for the ridiculous sight of Lane behind a store counter with six guns, but no storekeeper's apron. I'll bet the Saturday matinée kids thought it was ludicrous as well.

Edward Clark turns in an interesting performance as another clerk who is a petty crook and a real weasel giving information to the head of the rustlers. You'll be amused at who the boss really is.

A below average western for Lane to end his career as a cowboy hero in the Republic stable.

In the last of Rocky Lane's features, the former Red Ryder star takes on war-time cattle rustlers with the help of his long-time sidekick , Nugget. With solid detective work and a few lucky breaks, Lane moves to save the day and foil the plans of the greedy sidewinders......

Lane was never totally convincing as a western hero, often seeming wooden and distant. In this film, he turns in another average performance, with few noteworthy scenes.

The script and casting here are adequate, nothing more. Fans of this type of western programmer may find it moderately entertaining... Others, Beware ........!