Undercover Man

I have reviewed hundreds and hundreds of old B-westerns and enjoy them very much. However, nearly all the time, I never score any of them higher than a 7 simply because of the low production values and repetitive scripts (with only about 3 or 4 plots in about 99% of the films). So, imagine my surprise when I find one I managed to score a 9...and which really made me adore Johnny Mack Brown. Sure, the script is good and original...but Brown's wonderful easy-going hero really won me over to the film!

"Undercover Man" is a comical western where more often than not, Brown responds to bad guys by outsmarting them and making them look stupid instead of blasting them. In one case, he's being chased by one baddie and Brown's character lassos him and then dumps him out of a tree on the corrupt sheriff! In another, the baddies try to slip him a Mickey Finn (a drink laced with a drug to knock him out)...and he ends up switching the drinks with the badies and they soon all pass out! It often doesn't take itself very seriously but because of Brown's easygoing style, it works wonderfully. See him clean up a corrupt town in the most delightful manner! Clever and fun.

Johnny Mack Brown is Steve McLain and undercover agent for Wells Fargo Company sent to end the criminal activities of a local gang which is controlled by Ace Pringle, the local saloon owner who is plotting to take control of the town with the assistance of the local sheriff and deputies.

The story begins with Johnny falling for stagecoach passenger Suzanne Kaaren as Linda Forbes, daughter of the local judge.

Pringle and the local sheriff continually attempt to frame or kill Johnny but he is always one step ahead. Many of the nefarious plans are lame and almost comedic but that was not the original intent. Don't expect great acting as the characters are predictable and the situations contrived.

The ending is pure Happy Trails.

Republic Productions distributed this Supreme Pictures film which was never meant to be more than a B-Western. If you like Johnny Mack Brown, you will enjoy this movie. Otherwise, there are many other B-Westerns of greater merit.

"Undercover Man" is a pleasant enough offering from the most pleasant of western stars, Johnny Mack Brown. Nice outdoor settings and warm chuckles for the viewer from subtle comedic moments make for an entertaining hour. The heroine and JMB's sidekick Dizzy help bring the culprits to justice in some very lovely western outdoor and indoor settings. I always find it interesting how such a nice, easy-going guy like JMB can so cavalierly knock off a few bad guys along the way without showing nary a wit of emotion. But then again, that's the charm of living in the land of the B-western. A nice little program.

When Wells Fargo loses one too many shipments of payroll cash to notorious outlaw Ace Pringle, the company sends its best undercover agent, Steve McLain, to protect the route of the next stagecoach. He shoots some robbers in the beginning, annoying Ted Adam who is saloon owner and the brains behind the gang. He hides behind the lawmen for protection, but McLain gives the lawman the run around.

Johnny Mack Brown is good as always as a harmonica playing lawman undercover and Ted Adams is very good as a villain. There's some good lines, humour and action but on the whole quite routine and nothing too remarkable. Passable enough.