alan-pratt

Chubby George O'Brien - he of the massive over-sized titfer - grins his way though this entertaining B western, clearing the name of the honest banker (was there one?), sorting out dodgy surveyors Bond and Montague and finally winning the hand of Rosalind Keith.

Ray Whitley and the Phelps Brothers are on hand to warble a couple of ditties about life on the prairie and Chill Wills, as sidekick Whopper, tells tall tales presumably intended as comic relief.

The sets are good and the photography is nice: there are even a few plot twists to keep the non-western enthusiast interested. Above average.

Rocky's penultimate series western and, indeed, one of the very last B westerns to be released.

By 1953, television was looming large and even the injection of some quirky and original story lines into the Republic product was not enough to save the day.

The plot here revolves around the introduction of gas lighting into a typical western town and the different reactions of those most affected. To some, it is a thing of beauty to be cherished: to others, it is the work of the devil. Unsurprisingly, black-hearted Roy Barcroft is in neither camp: he sees it only as a means of destroying those seeking to inhibit his villainy. Lucky, indeed, that Marshal Rocky is on hand to put a stop to his nefarious schemes.

Otherwise, it's business as usual with the obligatory chases, punch-ups and shoot outs from a more than adequate cast. Lane, Waller and Barcroft, in particular, are always good value for money. But, having said that, there are moments when there is a distinct lack of urgency and even these stalwarts appear to be simply going through the motions.

Perhaps they knew that the end of the trail was just around the next corner.....

Progress on the railroad has pretty much ground to a halt as the workers spend most of their time drinking rotgut in Dan Duryea's boozer.

The leading citizens of the town request military help and tough soldier, Payne, is appointed as a sort of temporary marshal. Trouble is, he's an old mate of Duryea so it looks as though there's going to be a conflict of interests.

This is an above average Universal western: the two main protagonists play off each other well and there is excellent support from a very large cast of familiar westerners (many uncredited). Special mentions must go to Lee Van Cleef as a menacing, trigger happy bad guy (was he ever anything else?), Mari Blanchard as a saloon girl with a heart of gold (was she ever anything else?) and James Griffith, cast against type in a humorous role, as a bumbling ineffectual lawman.

Action scenes are well staged - particularly those on the trains - the photography is first class and the Technicolor beautiful as always.

Oh, and as an added bonus for B western fans, there's a title song over the opening credits rumbled out by the ever popular Rex Allen....