This is one of eight 'Lightning Bill Carson' movies starring the B-western actor Tim McCoy. Like the other Carson films I've seen, this one features McCoy going undercover--posing as a Leo Carillo-like Mexican bandit in order to infiltrate a band of baddies. In most, he plays a Mexican, but in one he plays a Gypsy and another a Chinese MAN! Unfortunately, this film was from Alpha Video and like most of their DVDs and the print is in need of restoration--with a scratchy print and no captions of any sort (which is a problem since the sound isn't that good).
Like so many of the B-westerns of the day, this is an odd one because it has a weird amalgam of both old west and the contemporary. So, while folks ride horses and covered wagons and act just like cowboys, some others dress in 1930s style. Weird but not unusual.
When the film begins, you learn that Bill Carson was framed for a murder six years earlier. Now, in the guise of El Puma, he leads a group of nice guys who protect gold shipments and keep order--sort of like a good outlaw! During this time, Carson is actually looking to prove his innocence. But, when his alter-ego, El Puma, is framed for murder as well, something has to give.
Unfortunately, compared to the other two Lightning Bill films I have seen, this one is pretty limp. I think most of this is because you so seldom actually see things occur. Instead, exposition is use to tell what happened previously--a very bad way to tell an interesting story. As a result, you really don't get to see McCoy at his best. Watchable but not particularly distinguished.
Like so many of the B-westerns of the day, this is an odd one because it has a weird amalgam of both old west and the contemporary. So, while folks ride horses and covered wagons and act just like cowboys, some others dress in 1930s style. Weird but not unusual.
When the film begins, you learn that Bill Carson was framed for a murder six years earlier. Now, in the guise of El Puma, he leads a group of nice guys who protect gold shipments and keep order--sort of like a good outlaw! During this time, Carson is actually looking to prove his innocence. But, when his alter-ego, El Puma, is framed for murder as well, something has to give.
Unfortunately, compared to the other two Lightning Bill films I have seen, this one is pretty limp. I think most of this is because you so seldom actually see things occur. Instead, exposition is use to tell what happened previously--a very bad way to tell an interesting story. As a result, you really don't get to see McCoy at his best. Watchable but not particularly distinguished.
