Powder River Rustlers

In the grand tradition of B westerns it is given a title that has nothing to do with the plot. Powder River Rustlers has nothing whatsoever to do with cattle rustling. Instead it's an elaborate con game being perpetrated on a town where they are asked to contribute to a fund to construct a railroad bridge. Word of this has leaked out and the railroad has sent their own investigator Rocky Lane.

There's a man Douglas Evans an actor posing as a railroad engineer Bruce Edwards that Lane happens to know. His new wife is coming to town and that could queer everything for bad guys Francis McDonald and Roy Barcroft.

McDonald is the town tailor and Barcroft is the muscle. One of the film's biggest assets is McDonald's performance. He's one shrewd article and a couple of Lane's gambits come up short. He's also deadly with a knife as a couple of cast member find out.

There are a couple of script plot holes. Had they not been there I would have rated Powder River Rustlers a lot higher. Still Allan Lane's fans should be pleased. s

The railroad is coming and to get the townspeople's money. Shears Williams brings in a fake Agent who tells them they must raise $50,000 as their share of a railroad bridge.

Solid Rocky Lane western that ticks all the boxes that makes this series special - fast-paced plot, great action and the twist and turns. But it's the villainy I like, especially the main villain - the town tailor - who is a great planner, and is one step ahead of Lane. He likes throwing a knife. In this western, Lane seems to be under pressure and even gets injured with a knife cut. Eddie Waller, like always, lends good support and is a character who likes to make things up!