Outcasts of the Trail

Though it is not their fault Jeff Donnell and her brother Tommy Ivo are shunned by their townspeople as surely as Hester Prynne was in The Scarlet Letter for a robbery that their father John Gallaudet committed in Outcasts Of The Trail. The only friends that Donnell and Ivo have are Monte Hale and Paul Hurst. Hale is playing Pat Garrett in the days before he became famous shooting down Billy the Kid.

Gallaudet took the rap alone covering for partners Milton Parson and Roy Barcroft. Gallaudet hid the money and now wants to turn it back to the express company, but Parsons and Bancroft have other ideas.

This is a pleasant B western from that premier factory of them, Republic Pictures. Monte Hale was a good western hero who sad to say was never able to climb out of that mold. He also was not fortunate enough to get into television where the B western went during the 1950s. Paul Hurst who did a series of westerns with Hale as a sidekick certainly has a lot of major films in his resume including some outstanding westerns like The Oxbow Incident and The Angel And The Badman.

This film will give you a good idea of the appeal Monte Hale had as a cowboy hero that sadly did not last into television.

"Outcasts of the Trail", the title of which has nothing to do with the movie, stars Monte Hale Republic's replacement for Gene Autry who left for Columbia in 1947. Hale was a likeable hero who sang a bit but never was able to progress after his Republic days ended in 1950 after four years.

The story begins with Vinnie White (Jeff Donnell) and her young brother Chad (Tommy Ivo) being shunned by the townsfolk because their father Ivory White (John Gallaudet) has been jailed for a $100K robbery of the Rysen Express Company. White took the fall for his partners Jim Judd (Roy Barcroft) and office manager Elias Dunkenscold (Milton Parsons). Pat Garrett (Hale) also works for Rysen. Barber/Dentist/Jack of all trades Doc Meadowlark (Paul Hurst) has his office there as well.

A buckboard race is being planned and Vinnie wants to enter much to the chagrin of the townsfolk, particularly town busy body Abbie Rysen (Minerva Urecal). She manages to enter along with Garrett and Fred Smith (Ted Mapes.) Smith manages to run both Vinnie and a fourth unnamed entrant off of the road. Smith and Garrett race to the finish with Garrett prevailing.

As Ivory is about to be released, he informs ex partner Judd that he plans to return the stolen money which he had hidden prior to his arrest. Judd isn't going to let that happen. Ivory nonetheless, manages to return the money but not before forcing Vinnie to participate in the hold up of the stage carrying her father.

Judd and Elias blow the safe and make off with the loot. Garret and the sheriff (Steve Darrell) pursue them with Elias and the sheriff getting wounded . Before he dies, the sheriff swears Garrett in as a Deputy. Judd and Elias had split up with Elias taking refuse in the White ranch's barn. Vinnie discovers him and she is wounded as she goes for help. Garrett arrives and discover the bag that contained the loot and is forced to arrest White.

Judd and Elias plan to kidnap young Chad and flee with the $100K. Garrett and Doc chase after Judd's wagon, which contains dynamite by the way, in a handy stage coach. In a frantic chase, Garrett catches up to Judd and......................................................

Oddly enough, Hale manages to sing only a part of a song when young Chad is having a tooth pulled. Hale played characters other than himself on several occasions. He even played Bat Masterton in one film. Hale never had a special horse as did Republic's other cowboy heroes either. Jeff Donnell would go on to bigger and better things in "A" features. Roy Barcroft, Republic's busiest bad guy is as nasty as ever as the chief villain. Paul Hurst doesn't really fill the role of a side kick here but only serves as comedy relief independently.

Watch for old timer Hank (le grand mustache) Bell as the stagecoach driver.