Rocky Mountain Rangers

This film got enough "only-in-the-movies" head-shakes from me that it also gets my "below-average" rating. The Three Mesquiteers bring a group of reinforcers to The Texas Rangers, who lack authority to address rampant bullying and lawlessness in a nearby area, which later became the "panhandle" of Oklahoma. The plan is to lure the boss desperado and his gang into Texas, where the good guys can do battle with the villains. Another part of the plan involves one of the Mesquiteers impersonating a look-alike fugitive. But then the REAL wanted man arrives on the scene. ROCKY MOUNTAIN RANGERS might give realists such as me a mild workout.

This film essentially begins with an outlaw gang led by a man named "King Barton" (LeRoy Mason) unleashing a reign of terror upon the residents living in the Oklahoma Panhandle due to the fact that the Texas Rangers, who are the closest law enforcement agency in that area, don't have jurisdiction over that territory and are not allowed to intervene. As a result, the Barton gang pretty much does whatever it wants. However, as these bandits become more and more ruthless, the public outcry soon becomes too noticeable to be ignored and the Three Mesquiteers volunteer to go into the Oklahoma Panhandle and set things right. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this turned out to be a pretty good addition to the Three Mesquiteer series with Robert Livingston performing as both "Stony Brooke" and the ruthless outlaw known as "the Laredo Kid." On top of that, he also reprises his role as "the Masked Rider" as well. So, he definitely earned his pay in this movie. Naturally, like all of the other films in this series, this movie is rather short (approximately 58 minutes) but, even so, I enjoyed it for the most part, and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

Before we start let me say that this 3 Mesquiteer western goes nowhere near the Rocky Mountains. But a group called The Rocky Mountain Rangers does send a detachment of men to help that other Ranger outfit in Texas deal with the infamous Barton gang. Add to that the 3 Mesquiteers and these outlaws don't have a chance.

The Panhandle has become a no man's land that's run by outlaws chief among them the notorious Barton gang. LeRoy Mason perennial B western villain plays the notorious King Barton, as mean an outlaw as we've ever seen on the big screen or small. The Texas Rangers can't go in there officially, but nothing is going to stop the 3 Mesquiteers especially their young friend Sammy McKim is killed.

Their ace in the hole is the fact that Robert Livingston looks like another notorious outlaw The Laredo Kid. With Duncan Renaldo and Raymond Hatton as backup, Livingston waits to make his move.

This Mesquiteer saga should please fans of all generations.