Western Justice

Three disparate men -- Bob Steele, Lafe McKee and Julian Rivero -- meet up in the middle of nowhere. At first they're suspicious, but they decide to travel together. Little do they know that they're all after the same man, Arthur Loft: Rivero, because he murdered his daughter; McKee because he was the sheriff when a friend of his was robbed and killed; and Steele because his friend was framed for the murder. Their travels take them to a town dying of thirst because John Cowell, who controls the water, has cut it off, despite the protests of his niece, Renee Borden.

Robert Bradbury writes and directs this proto-Three-Mesqueteers movie about rough-and-ready justice very well -- a couple of holes can be laid to the fact that the 50-minute print I saw had six minutes cut off the original running time. Longtime movie actor McKee, who entered films in 1913 with Selig, gets the juiciest role. Rivero gets a rare good-guy gig, although given his quest for vengeance, it's nicely nuanced. Steele, whose roles I watch in this period for his acrobatics, doesn't perform any, but he does get one big fight and sings a couple of songs. It's all very nicely done, with a dynamite ending, and a superior B western for the period.

Bob Steele, Lafe McGee and Julian Rivero as Ace, King and Jack are outstanding in this pre Three-Mesqueteers western. The Robert N. Bradbury plot has the trio on seperate missions but meet up to confront the villain John Brent (John Cowell) from drying up the town. Renee Borden is the beautiful Queen who makes this movie a winning hand. Good to see close friend of Steele, Earl Dwire as Doc and prolific supporting actor, Arthur Loft.

The plot of this film is a bit more involved than just three guys getting together and making plans to blow up a dam: Clem Slade(Arthur Loft), member of the John Brent (Jack Cowell) outlaw gang, kills and robs a Mexican storekeeper in a border town. He then visits Dolores Lopez, whom he has deceived with a fake marriage certificate and who is ill. Slade takes the money her father, Pancho Lopez(Julian Rivero), has given her, beats her and the old physician (Earl Dwire) attending her up, and makes his getaway. Dolores dies and her father takes up Slade's trail, intent on vengeance. Jim (Bob Steele), a young cowhand visiting his Aunt Emma(Vane Calvert),also takes up the pursuit of the killer, as does the Sheriff(Lafe McKee), and none of the three know the others. They come together in a cabin and each of the three mistrusts the other two regarding their motive for being there,and the Sheriff does not inform Jim or Pancho that he is a lawman. Each has a reason for keeping his true identity unknown so, during a card name, Jim identifies himself as "Ace", the Sheriff says he is "King" and Pancho settles for "Jack." They travel together to Mirage City, which is run by Brent and his gang, including Slade, whom Pancho does not know is the man who betrayed Pancho's daughter. The creek furnishing water to the town and ranches has gone dry and Brent controls the only stock of water through a reservoir he owns. Brent has a niece, Beatrice/Bee(Renee Borden), who is unaware that her uncle has damned the creek up in the hills in order to create his water monopoly. Brent also controls all of the ammunition in town. Ace, King and Jack set out to remedy both situations. Pancho's remedy is a bit grim and stark.