The Last Bandit

Another fine outing from Republic and Bill Elliott. Tucker is the crooked brother that tries to lure Elliott back into a life of crime by robbing a train full of gold. The TRUCOLOR is great and so is the supporting cast featuring Andy Divine. Plenty of action, this one moves along swiftly.

Solid A-Western from lowly Republic Pictures. Unusually good performances from a larger than average cast. True, Elliot doesn't get much chance to show his special brand of ornery, but Tucker, Booth and Withers (Bagley) show their best stuff, and even Devine manages not to get too cute. Some good touches-- the hillbilly break-dancer, the scrawny comic-drunk, and the old-lady mastermind. Also, the bewhiskered guy playing the sheriff doesn't get many lines, but sure adds color and an authentic look. Then too, the plot of two brothers on opposite sides of the law and the girl, is saved from cliché by the imaginative train sequences, including a great avalanche effect from the best in the business, the Lydecker brothers.

Obviously Republic popped a bundle considering the scenic location shots and the train expense. Actually, my favorite scene is not an action-filled one; it's the office scene where the bigshots try to sort out blame for the gold robbery. It's really a special touch because most Westerns would not bother with talk about how robbery affects business types and high finance. Making one a Mexican is also an imaginative addition. The only reason I tuned in is because I'm an Elliot fan, but I've got to admit the movie was much better than expected. Old Joe Kane may not have been much of an artist, but as a director of Westerns, he never made a boring one.

About to marry Jim Plummer, Kate Foley runs off to Nevada when Ed Bagley convinces her a quick fortune can be made robbing gold shipments that are being transported by the railroad. In Bannock City she meets reformed-bandit Frank Plummer, posing as Frank Norris, brother of Jim Plummer, who has being going straight and working as an express shipment guard. Jim also shows up and plans a robbery by stealing a train and hiding it in an abandoned tunnel. The two brothers are on opposite sides of the law with the now-reformed Kate caught in the middle.

Colourful western with good production values stars Will Bill Elliot, a reformed outlaw who is now guarding a gold train, and of course, his brother - the underrated Forest Tucker - is trying to rob it. Soon they lock heads. Hence some neat conflicts gets aroused. There's some good nifty pace and romance, however the film really picks up mid-way with the train sequence and the robbery. Overall engages but second half is the best part. There's some interesting characters played by Lorna Grey and Minna Gombell.

The highlight in in this western is the very inventive train robbery, so exciting and never shown before, as far as I know. That reminded me the heist scheme of THEY CAME TO ROB LAS VEGAS. For the rest, nothng special but a good time waster pulled by solid performances. Bill Elloitt and Forrest Tucker, Republic "house" stars were unavoidable in this movie, only Rod Cameron or Vera Ralston were missing.

The Last Bandit which is a remake of an earlier Republic western that starred Bob Steele called The Great Robbery involves the story of Wild Bill Elliott and Forrest Tucker, a pair of outlaw brothers named Plummer who have gone their separate ways. Elliott has left their Ozark turf and gone west to Nevada and now works for a railroad express company making an honest living. But when Tucker hears that he figures he's got an inside man for a really big score. He brings the whole gang with him from Missouri to Nevada and that includes Adrian Booth who flirts between the two brothers.

Still a film aimed at the juvenile trade, The Last Bandit is a great deal more intricately plotted than most westerns out of Republic Studios. Herbert J. Yates even splurged for a color process called TruColor and the DVD I have it shows it has aged well or been nicely restored. The color may make this the most expensive Wild Bill Elliott western ever done.

Such stalwarts as Jack Holt, Andy Devine, Virginia Brissac, Martin Garralaga, and Grant Withers are all in the cast in roles suited to them. Charles Middleton the famous Ming the Merciless makes his farewell appearance in The Last Bandit as a circuit riding preacher at the beginning of the film. But the one to watch is Minna Gombell who plays the proprietress of the saloon where all the plots are hatched and she's sitting on the nest. The film also hints ever so gently at her real profession as madam of a bordello, also unusual for a film marketed to juveniles.

The final 20 minutes or so deals with the robbery and Elliott's attempt to foil same. It was expertly done and a close run thing.

The Last Bandit is definitely a must for Wild Bill Elliott fans.