Heroes of the Hills

This film essentially begins with a convict by the name of "Red" (LeRoy Mason) escaping from a prison and taking with him a younger inmate known only as "The Kid" (James Eagles) who appears to be suffering from a respiratory illness. Although they initially make good with their prison break, they are eventually caught by the Three Mesquiteers, who then learn that the primary reason Red escaped was to help his friend, whom he believes would have died due to the crowded conditions of the prison. Realizing that Red is probably telling the truth, the Three Mesquiteers devise a plan to utilize prison inmates on their ranch, which will not only alleviate prison conditions but also benefit them in the process. The problem, however, is that a greedy contractor by the name of "Robert Beaton" (Roy Barcroft) has been using the overcrowded prison conditions to justify building an enormous prison in that same area--and he has no intention of allowing anything to upset his plans. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was an okay film for the most part, with a solid plot and decent acting from all concerned. Admittedly, it's rather dated, but all things considered, it passed the time well enough, and I have rated it accordingly. Average.

This film from the Three Mesquiteers was an action-packed western that fans of the era's B-films are sure to love. The trio was again well-cast here, with a supporting cast that included the sinister (and prolific) Roy Barcroft. Many copy-cat western trios were to follow in the next decade, but none could hold a candle to these originals!

Crash Corrigan and Livingston are especially noteworthy here.... they interact here in a convincing and believable way. The later films in this series were less action-packed and more routine than this one. This film stands out from others in the series and should be enjoyed by most western fans.