Les écumeurs des Monts Apaches

Entertaining Western set in the early months of the Civil War. Stage coaches connecting Union states in the East with Arizona and California are being hijacked by Southern sympathizers. Grif Holbrook (Rod Cameron) and Barney Broderick (Wayne Morris), employees of the stage line, work together to find the hijackers while they compete for the affection of bookkeeper Kate Crocker (Kay Buckley). Plenty of action -- fist fights, gun fights, chase scenes -- and some unexpected humor too, revolving around the rivalry between the two men. Nothing the least bit original here, but plenty of excitement and some laughs as well.

I just watched Stage To Tucson on The Sony Movie Channel. It's set in 1861 Arizona and outlaws are stealing Butterfield stagecoaches. And they have a very unique way of doing it. The Civil War is about o begin and tensions are high between northerners and southerners. The outlaws pose as southern sympathizers. Butterfield troubleshooter Griff Holbrook arrives to investigate. He is aided by stage driver Barney Broderick and stage office manager Kate Crocker. This is a fast moving story with lots of action. The stunt work really brings it notch above the B Western. Hard riding, with closeups of the actual stars, and expert stagecoach and wagon driving at top speed. The fist fights are well done, too. Rugged Rod Cameron is well cast as Griff, as is likable Wayne Morris as Barney. Kay Buckley is Kate. She only had seven movie credits. And this is 42-year old Sally Eilers last appearance before retiring from acting. This may not be an A Western, but it's definitely a strong B+.

A group of outlaws posing as Southern sympathizers and led secretly by freight-line owner Jim Maroon are raiding stagecoaches, and this is a threat to the Union communications. Grif Holbrook, a trouble-shooter for the Butterfield Stage Line, and Union man Barney Broderick team up to try and put a stop to the activity, when they aren't fighting over the charms of Kate Crocker.

Stage to Tucson is a lively western with no pretensions except to thrill. The plot is brisk, creative and brimming with shootouts, fisticuffs and magnificent stagecoaches - loved the rogue riderless iron stagecoach idea and how they steal the stagecoaches - and plenty of stunts. As expected, there's a bit romantic conflict between Rod Cameron and the eccentric Wayne Morris, and their interaction and fights are amusing. As well as action, there's plenty of intrigue and plot twists and colourful characters. Rousing finale rounds up an entertaining western.