Outlaws of Sonora

This film essentially begins with a number of bandits robbing banks, stagecoaches and everything else in their path while leaving no living witnesses behind. To that effect, recognizing the danger involved, "Stony Brooke" (Robert Livingston) is asked by the local cattleman's association to ride to another town and retrieve some of their money which they have deposited there in the bank. Naturally, being the fearless cowboy that he is, Stony rides off with the paperwork necessary to make the withdrawal. Unknow to him, however, is the fact that the bandits have learned of the plan and subsequently ambush him along the way. And although Stony hasn't had a chance to withdraw the money from the bank, he does have the letter issued to him by the cattleman's association which they can use to extract the money themselves. And to do that, the leader of the bandits named "Dude Brennan" (also played by Robert Livingston) uses his uncanny resemblance to Stony to help in that effort. Not only that, but since he looks so much like Stony, he also decides to frame him for all of the crimes that he himself had committed as well. But what Dude doesn't count on is the persistence of Stony's colleagues "Tucson Smith" (Ray Corrigan) and "Lullaby Joslin" (Max Terhune) who faithfully endeavor to locate their friend and set the record straight. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this turned out to be an okay Western in spite of the rather predictable and unrealistic scenario involved. Be that as it may, while I certainly don't consider this to be one of the better "Three Mesquiteer" films, it passed the time well enough, and I have rated it accordingly. Average.

The plot for "Outlaws of Sonora" is utterly ridiculous...the sort of thing you might see in a B-movie or an old TV show but certainly NOT something that really could happen. It begins with Stony being captured by bandits. The bandit leader realizes he looks much like Stony so he shaves and dons Stony's clothes...and now looks and sounds 100% like Stony. Using Stony's identity, he commits a murder and robbery and now the law and the other two Mesquiteers are looking for him....not realizing it's really NOT Stony. And, when the real Stony escapes, he's shot at on sight! What's next for poor Stony??

Having there been a passing resemblance to Stony might have worked. But having the same actor play both roles made this film very slight from the onset. Is it worth seeing despite this? Well, like all the Three Mesquiteer films, it is enjoyable....even though the plot is just plain dumb...and is so dumb that you don't notice how silly having Elmer in the film actually is! And, because the plot is so silly, you have to turn off your brain and just enjoy it as best you can.

A nifty plot twist makes this an oddball Mesquitiers oater. So who's winning the fight: is it good guy Stony or bad guy Dude? Then too, who's winning the hard-riding run-down: is it Stony or Dude. Can't tell because they look and dress exactly alike. So what's a front-row geezer like me supposed to do. Suddenly, I'm realizing how handily simplfying the 'white hats' vs. 'black hats' of my front-row youth were. Anyway, it's an interesting twist served up by the plot with actor Livingston playing both roles. All in all, it's an unusual oater wih lots of hard-riding and good red-rock scenery, along with ventriloquist Terhune's comical dummy that adds a few well-woven laughs. So catch up with the rather provocative hour's entertainment when you can, especially if you're a front-row cowboy like me.