Arizona Bound

Buck Jones (as Buck Roberts), Tim McCoy (as Tim McCall), and Raymond Hatton (as Sandy Hopkins) marshal their forces as "The Rough Riders". Their first mission is to help pretty Luana Walters (as Ruth Masters); the family's "Master's Stage Line" is being robbed by wicked Tris Coffin (as Steve Taggert) and his gang. Also, Ms. Masters' father has been killed by the gang.

The quick drawing folks at the Monogram studio took a look at rival Republic's unprecedented success with their "The Three Mesquiteers" series of films and took action, producing a couple of "Threesomes" of their own. From the "Top 10 Western Box Office Star" lists, Monogram employed Mr. Jones, Mr. McCoy, and "Mesquiteer" Raymond Hatton as "The Rough Riders". Given the western star power, "Arizona Bound" is surprisingly dull.

Buck, Tim and Ray kick off a great Rough Riders series. Seems as though Bunion (Horace Murphy) was right that Buck can't turn down a request from Bat Madison (Bob Baker). McCoy comes on strong with early comic relief as a preacher who forces the barflies to sing at gunpoint. Great to see Tristram Coffin famously known for his "dead man walking" incident on live television. Easy to see why Slim Whitaker was one of the most prolific actors as a B-western villains. Also, sweethearts on the set Luana Walters and Dennis Moore were very popular in these early westerns. A lot of action and throwing lead here, especially with the spectacular final scene.

Former lawman Buck Jones is called to Mesa City, Arizona in order to get to the bottom of the constant stagecoach and gold-shipment robberies. Framed for the hold-ups, Jones teams up with "preacher" Tim McCoy and good-old-boy Raymond Hatton to uncover the real culprits.

The first in Monogram Pictures' Rough Riders series, this is mostly by-the-numbers, with little action. However, it's redeemed somewhat by an exciting, action-packed climax and an inspired performance by McCoy, who's flamboyant character introduction, where he refuses to "dance" to a blazing six-gun before turning the tables and forcing the whole saloon to sing "Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie", is the film's highlight.

Watching this first of the Rough Rider series of B westerns for Monogram it occurred to me that someone in that studio thought it would be a good idea to team three veteran cowboys. No love interest for these guys. They're about business always.

Tim McCoy, Buck Jones, and Raymond Hatton all have careers dating back to the silent era. Hatton in fact was in some of the earliest films made in Hollywood. I'm sure the front row Saturday matinee kids liked them. But this was a trio that their parents might appreciate.

These three are all doing separate things but they answer a call from a US Marshal friends who says that in a certain Arizona town the gold miners are being systematically robbed when they ship with Luana Walters stagecoach line. All three drift in separately and pretend not to know each other. Do you doubt they get the job done?

This was a good beginning to the series.

Watching many of the cheaply made 'B' westerns, I am use to an array of repeat stories that seem so cookie-cut that you can tell the ending only after a few minutes of watching. However, as I sat down to watch this film it became apparent that all 'B' movies are not created equal. This was actually an entertaining story with some fascinating characters.

The story was centered around three Marshals (Rough Riders) that went undercover to find the people responsible for a series of stage robberies in a small Arizona town. The three Marshals, Buck Jones, Tim McCoy and Ray Hatton arrive in the town at different times as to not arouse the suspicion of the locals with only Jones revealing that he use to be a Marshal but had since retired. And as the plot thickens, the townsfolk will soon learn that they are in the middle of a investigation that will not stop till justice is served.

This was an enjoyable start to the Rough Rider series. -- And sure some of the scenes were rough, as when the trio went through a hail of gunfire and never even got a scratch. Or when a villain was shooting at one of the Marshals and he just walked right towards the villain and never was struck- but it played out well on the screen. An enjoyable watch that has me looking for the next time the Rough Riders ride again. I giving this an solid 8 on the 'B' western index.