As if to underscore my summary line above, this film features some wild and fast paced action scenes via stagecoach, buckboard and horse chase. One in particular, Rex Allen's ride into town with black maid Mattie (Louise Beavers) is so over the top, you could almost accuse him of reckless endangerment. But you could tell they were both having a good time; when Mattie shoves Rex's hat down on his head, he has all he can do from cracking up in a fit of laughter. Check it out the split second he uncovers his face.
The film offers another unique sequence not typical of your average 'B' oater. When lost brother Dusty Hurley (John Daheim) confronts Mattie at the Reynolds ranch house, they get into an altercation and he SHOOTS her! Then, with pet dog Manhattan giving chase to the villain, Dusty turns and fires on the pup! He has got to be one of the meanest low down skunks in Western history!
The story itself pits the dastardly Hurley clan against Jackie Reynolds (Mary Ellen Kay) and Slim Pickens, who find themselves as co-heirs of a huge ranch and timber land from Uncle Ezekiah. It's ranchers versus timber interests with the U.S. Forestry Department caught in the middle of a bark beetle scam that the Hurley's claim to be destroying the forest. If ruled in their favor, the Hurley's stand to make a fortune with their reopened mill operation.
There's just about an emergency at every turn, with Rex using a variety of running mounts to ride Koko to the rescue. He uses a hitching post and a tree stump along with a few other maneuvers to swing into action. Conversely, it was kind of unusual to see Slim Pickens actually fall down trying to dismount his still moving horse during Allen's stage coach save early in the picture.
Say, keep an eye on the scene when Rex and the sheriff ride into town to inspect the Hurley Mill office. When they get off their horses, the animals are left to move along on their own in the street. However when both men leave the office after finding the letter addressed to Allen, the horses are tied to a hitching post. You know, maybe the town WAS haunted!
With all the shifting action between heroes and villains, the story even finds enough time to throw in a raging thunder storm to further highlight the ranchers plight. I thought it a bit surreal though for Rex and his pals, the Republic Rhythm Riders, to burst into a version of 'Down by the Riverside' as they throw down their sand bags to fight a break in the town levee. No more surreal though, then 'Ma' Pickens giving advice to her son via his pocket watch heirloom!
The film offers another unique sequence not typical of your average 'B' oater. When lost brother Dusty Hurley (John Daheim) confronts Mattie at the Reynolds ranch house, they get into an altercation and he SHOOTS her! Then, with pet dog Manhattan giving chase to the villain, Dusty turns and fires on the pup! He has got to be one of the meanest low down skunks in Western history!
The story itself pits the dastardly Hurley clan against Jackie Reynolds (Mary Ellen Kay) and Slim Pickens, who find themselves as co-heirs of a huge ranch and timber land from Uncle Ezekiah. It's ranchers versus timber interests with the U.S. Forestry Department caught in the middle of a bark beetle scam that the Hurley's claim to be destroying the forest. If ruled in their favor, the Hurley's stand to make a fortune with their reopened mill operation.
There's just about an emergency at every turn, with Rex using a variety of running mounts to ride Koko to the rescue. He uses a hitching post and a tree stump along with a few other maneuvers to swing into action. Conversely, it was kind of unusual to see Slim Pickens actually fall down trying to dismount his still moving horse during Allen's stage coach save early in the picture.
Say, keep an eye on the scene when Rex and the sheriff ride into town to inspect the Hurley Mill office. When they get off their horses, the animals are left to move along on their own in the street. However when both men leave the office after finding the letter addressed to Allen, the horses are tied to a hitching post. You know, maybe the town WAS haunted!
With all the shifting action between heroes and villains, the story even finds enough time to throw in a raging thunder storm to further highlight the ranchers plight. I thought it a bit surreal though for Rex and his pals, the Republic Rhythm Riders, to burst into a version of 'Down by the Riverside' as they throw down their sand bags to fight a break in the town levee. No more surreal though, then 'Ma' Pickens giving advice to her son via his pocket watch heirloom!
