Rosa de Cimarron

Titian-haired Mala Powers looks good in buckskin, can ride a horse and handle a gun and is throughout at the centre of the action (in as far that you can make out what's happening - along with the many familiar faces in the supporting cast - through the horrible colour process calling itself 'Natural Color', the missing link between Cinecolor and SuperCinecolor).

Baddie Bill Williams wears a mask to rob a train despite his regular all-black attire being a bit of a giveaway!

This film has absolutely no other pretentions other than to be a colourful B-Movie Western, and with Harry Keller's sharp directions it succeeds. Mala Powers is a child brought up by Native Americans, after a raid on a wagon train. She grows up thinking she is was born there, and in another killing she loses her adopted family. The film sensitively handles this, and also her seeking revenge for their deaths. What happens next I will not disclose, but Mala Powers is exceptionally good as Rose. I am partly reviewing this film because of her; a great and very beautiful actor who was in many other not so well known films well worth tracking down, especially 'Outrage' directed by Ida Lupino. She always acted with both a solid presence, and was an intelligent actor to watch. In this film she is given a role which makes the male actors look meek beside her, except Bill Williams as one of the killers she tracks down. Sadly the copy I saw was in poor shape, and deserves if possible a full restoration, and 'Natural Colour' in which it was filmed could also have been better. Well worth just over an hour of the sort of cinema long since past; the double bill which brought pleasure to so many.

This is one of hundreds of B-Westerns made, but does have a few advantages. It is in photographed in in bright colors, which makes it dazzling to watch. The cast is filled with sturdy veterans like Bob Steele and Jim Davis, although Jack Buetel,star of 'The Outlaw' is as charmless as ever. Best selling point is lovely Mala Powers as the lead, a White girl raised by Indians, out to track killers of her adoptive parents.As a buckskinned beauty ,she is decidedly the main attraction. Bill Williams lends his skills as the heavy. Packed with action and gunplay, this is a successful timefiller

That's for me with this western that director Harry Keller showed his skills for future movies, for instance DAY OF THE BADMAN, QUANTEZ, SEVEN WAYS FROM SUNDOWN. Good solid story for such a small film, so short, maybe too short, but beautiful, and so perfect for a longer length. Excellent Mala Powers role for such a powerful character, strong and moving, poignant woman, as we can see from time to time in westerns. I am still under the charm of this promising film for this film maker. Harry Keller began his career at Republic Pictures with under one hour westerns, but not of this quality, with lower budgets and less freedom. Here, this is the true beginning for Harry Keller.