Riders of Black Mountain (1940) User Reviews

A Gussied-up Tim McCoy Leads the Way to Black Mountain

[glennstenb · 6/10 · 13 September 2021]

There has always been something majestic and regal about Tim McCoy's presence in film, and his presence in "Riders of Black Mountain" carries this even a notch or two higher than normal, what with him always being cloaked in a long black gambler's coat and sporting a sharply-cut black hat, less grandiose than his normally-worn super-sized white one; yes, he dons this attire even when riding at breakneck speed on horseback, and he looks sharp for sure!

This picture was produced toward the end of the Colonel's leading-man days (1940) at the lower-budgeted PRC studios, and they didn't throw too many extra morsels into this one. Still, the cast come across as earnest and involved, even if the story is somewhat threadbare and could have used an extra peek by the story editor. Most of the action in this one is on horseback, with variously-sized groups of men riding here and there and everywhere all the time. I was impressed to see the stagecoach riders actually rocking back and forth during the interior on-board scenes. The outdoor scenery , of which there is plenty, is beautiful, too.

In summary, "Riders of Black Mountain" would be dull and uneventful if it were not for Tim McCoy being at the helm; however, because he is leading the way the film is indeed watchable.

McCoy Takes a Gamble!

[bsmith5552 · 7/10 · 15 October 2020]

"Riders of Black Mountain" (aka "Black Mountain Stage:) has Marshal Tim Donovan (Tim McCoy) working undercover (again) as a gambler riding the Black Mountain Stage in order to track down the gang that has been robbing it of bank shipments. Tim's sidekick Tombstone (Ralph Peters follows close behind with Tim's horse. A gang led by Pete Smith (Ted Adams) stops the coach and robs the passengers.

When the gang leaves, Tim jumps from the coach and goes to his horse and he and Tombstone follow the bandits. They come upon the gang counting their loot but are driven off by Tim and Tombstone. Sheriff Clay Mathews (Rex Lease) arrives with a posse and arrests Tim and Tombstone for the robbery. Mathews seems to have it in for Tim. Judge Harper (Frank LaRue) who was also riding the stage vouches for Tim forcing Mathews to free him. Also aboard was Jose a gabby guts Mexican and Insurance Investigator (George Harris) who has come to investigate the robberies as well.

Tim tells Harris of his true identity and the two forge a plan to trap the outlaws. The gang try to frame the Judge by placing one of the empty money bags in his fireplace. Tim soon eliminates the Judge, who has an attractive young daughter Betty (Pauline Haddon), as a suspect. Tim suspects town banker Emmett (Stephen Chase) and Stagecoach agent Biff Hunter (Jack Rutherford as being behind the robberies. Emmett stages the robberies and then collects on the insurance.

Bart (George Chesebro) was wounded in a gunfight with Tim and the posse. Tim sees him at the bar of the relay station and pursues him. As Bart is about to talk he is shot by Jim Miller (Dirk Thane) one of the gang. Tim and Harris set up a fake robbery by filling the strong box with washers. Tim befriends the gang by "rescuing" them from Sheriff Mathews grasp. Tim participates in the "robbery" and then trail s them to their hideout where the rest of the loot is stashed.

When Tim confronts the outlaws, Mathews, who has been following Tim arrives. Tim explains the situation ans as Mathews goes to inspect the hidden loot a furious fight breaks out and........................................................

Tim McCoy as always, lifts this little opus above it's budget conscious scenario. Made by poverty row studio PRC, one can spot many cost saving devices employed by the studio. For example, most of the story takes place in a relay station rather than a town, and they use plenty of "hard ridin'" shot to use up as much running time as possible. By having the story told outside and in the small relay station, the studio saved money on extras needing only a minimal number.

In the unbilled cast are veteran Steve Clark and a teen age Lane Bradford as deputies. Bradford would go on too be a prominent heavy in many oaters of the 40s, 50s and 60s.

A rather confusing film...as if they wrote it as they filmed it!

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 8 June 2018]

In the old silent film days, studios often filmed stories without a script or the barest of scripts. Sennett Studio in particular worked using this seat of your pants method...telling actors to 'do funny things' and with only the vaguest of instructions from the director! This method, of course, wouldn't work with sound pictures and was soon abandoned. However, the Tim McCoy film "Riders of Black Mountain" looks almost like they filmed it the Sennett manner! Why? Because so much of the story really makes no sense and McCoy's character behaves very oddly to say the least.

I could try to explain the story, but it ain't easy. McCoy comes to town on the stage pretending to be a professional gambler. He's really a US Marshall there to find out why the stage has been robbed so many times. But he doesn't let the honest local sheriff know and sometimes McCoy's plans seem goofy...such as when he holds up the Sheriff and has him free his prisoners! Don't try to understand it too much...it might give you a headache!

I am a big Tim McCoy fan and have seen most of his westerns....which is NOT an easy task. But it does help me to understand that the McCoy films, while low budget, could be exceptional....and this one sure wasn't!