Wagon Wheels Westward

Quite a bit more plot than usual is in this Red Ryder western from Republic Pictures. This one involves nothing less than an outlaw gang headed by perennial western villain Roy Barcroft masquerading as the citizens of the sleepy town of Desert Springs and taking the money quite illegally from the travelers on a Wagon Train that Bill Elliott and the Duchess are leading. Alice Fleming is thinking of setting up a stage line in this area where the railroad hasn't traveled and the news of the outside world only rarely.

The appearance of George J. Lewis who is both blackmailing one of the women on the wagon train and who simultaneously wants to cut himself in on Barcroft's scheme gets Lewis murdered and the whole outlaw plan slowly unraveling. It might have worked but Red Ryder that peaceable man smells a rat and he has the same opinion that Rooster Cogburn has of rodents of all kinds.

Wagon Wheels Westward still holds up as good western entertainment even for today's more jaded audience.

Having not seen "Wagon Wheels Westward" before, I was surprised first of all that the story was not primarily an epic about pioneers struggling overland to reach their destination but rather a story about the struggles they have after reaching it. Second, I was delightfully surprised to find a deliciously innovative and attention-holding story which. Granted. May stretch credulity a bit, but which also begs appreciation.

Certainly the perennially soft-spoken, congenial, resolute, and order-restoring Wild Bill is the centerpiece of the show, but the other principals of the cast have plenty of involving and pertinent screen time too. One can imagine that Roy Barcroft, Alice Fleming, and the entire ensemble enjoyed piecing this well-directed outing together.

Beyond that, I must say that not only was the story delightfully far-fetched, but some of the goings-on were just a tad over-wrought, too, such as the dead-eye routine marksmanship of plugging people with pistols from a hundred yards away and having a fist fight last where those battling almost nonchalantly receive what seem to be twenty or more square-on punches to the face. Spectacularly appreciated stuff indeed!

This is a rollickingly rewarding movie for fans of B-plus westerns to enjoy and a good one for uninitiated folks to be introduced to them, as well. See it!