"Thunder Mountain" was Tim Holt's first series western following WWII, the first of three films based on Zane Grey stories and the first of 29 entries featuring Richard Martin as his sidekick. Slickly produced with the high production values of the RKO studio, Holt's series westerns were always entertaining and were usually blessed with excellent supporting casts of veteran and upcoming players, as well as, good scripts.
This one has Marvin Hayden (Holt) returning home from college to find his ranch about to be auctioned off for back taxes. We also learn of a long standing feud between his family and that of Ellie Jorth (Martha Hyer) whom he had met on the stagecoach home. Her two feisty brothers Chick (Steve Brodie) and Lee (Robert Clarke) attempt to scare Hayden off without success.
Meanwhile, we learn that bad guys Trimble Carson (Harry Woods) and Johnny Blue (Richard Powers) plan to buy the ranch at auction. It seems that a dam is to be built on the land which will drive up its value when the acreage becomes productive. They are aided in their task by unscrupulous Sheriff Hadley (Harry Harvey).
Hayden is befriended by his pal Chito Rafferty (Martin), lawyer Jim Gardner (Jason Robards Sr.) and heart of gold saloon girl Ginger Kelly (Virginia Owen). Hayden refuses to wear his father's guns. After Carson and Blue ambush Hadley and Ellie, Chick rides in to investigate. He is murdered by Carson in a manner that lays the blame upon Hayden. Ginger and Chito set about to prove that Carson is the real murderer.
Hayden is arrested by Bagley however Gardner arranges to get the tax money that is owed from a family bank account and a loan. Chito breaks Hayden out of jail and the two ride to the Hayden ranch. They arrive to find that Gardner has been shot down by Carson. Well, enough being enough, Hadley straps on his father's guns and he, Chito and Lee Jorth ride into town and.............
Martha Hyer who was all of about 18 and a brunette at this time, makes a pretty heroine. She of course would soon graduate to "A" list films. Richard Powers was better known as Tom Keene and had actually starred in a series of westerns for RKO in the early thirties. Although Holt would remain in series westerns from 1947 until 1952, he did step outside the genre during this time to play a key role in John Huston's "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" (1948). Harry Woods was one of the most familiar bad guys in the "B" westerns of the 30s and 40s.
An excellent series western.
This one has Marvin Hayden (Holt) returning home from college to find his ranch about to be auctioned off for back taxes. We also learn of a long standing feud between his family and that of Ellie Jorth (Martha Hyer) whom he had met on the stagecoach home. Her two feisty brothers Chick (Steve Brodie) and Lee (Robert Clarke) attempt to scare Hayden off without success.
Meanwhile, we learn that bad guys Trimble Carson (Harry Woods) and Johnny Blue (Richard Powers) plan to buy the ranch at auction. It seems that a dam is to be built on the land which will drive up its value when the acreage becomes productive. They are aided in their task by unscrupulous Sheriff Hadley (Harry Harvey).
Hayden is befriended by his pal Chito Rafferty (Martin), lawyer Jim Gardner (Jason Robards Sr.) and heart of gold saloon girl Ginger Kelly (Virginia Owen). Hayden refuses to wear his father's guns. After Carson and Blue ambush Hadley and Ellie, Chick rides in to investigate. He is murdered by Carson in a manner that lays the blame upon Hayden. Ginger and Chito set about to prove that Carson is the real murderer.
Hayden is arrested by Bagley however Gardner arranges to get the tax money that is owed from a family bank account and a loan. Chito breaks Hayden out of jail and the two ride to the Hayden ranch. They arrive to find that Gardner has been shot down by Carson. Well, enough being enough, Hadley straps on his father's guns and he, Chito and Lee Jorth ride into town and.............
Martha Hyer who was all of about 18 and a brunette at this time, makes a pretty heroine. She of course would soon graduate to "A" list films. Richard Powers was better known as Tom Keene and had actually starred in a series of westerns for RKO in the early thirties. Although Holt would remain in series westerns from 1947 until 1952, he did step outside the genre during this time to play a key role in John Huston's "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" (1948). Harry Woods was one of the most familiar bad guys in the "B" westerns of the 30s and 40s.
An excellent series western.