A stage coach robbery has motivations that go beyond the typical payroll heist, beyond the nefarious deeds of some bandit, and beyond revenge against the stagecoach company. It's all a huge conspiracy, occurring at the wrong time for who is on board and who that person happens to be related to. This is one of those epic tales of power struggles and the need to prevent any struggles because of competition. It's the case of big fish eating up growing fish so growing fish doesn't get bigger than big fish.
In this case, the big fish is a big toothed piranha stuck in a portly frame, a surprisingly sinister George Cleveland, cast against type as the controlling and crooked town patriarch out to prevent competition at any cost. He's got the law in his pocket, and when one of the stagecoach robbers in custody threatens to squeal, you know his moments on earth are numbered. But the film's hero, Randoloh Scott, ironically Cleveland's nephew, vows to take the ruthless tyrant down, family relations be damned.
This is from the independent team of Pine/Thomas productions whose low budget films were released through Paramount. This is higher budgeted than normal, with an A cast and some really good color photography. Lon Chaney Jr. is appropriately ruthless as Cleveland's henchman, and George "Gabby" Hayes grizzled but gutsy as Scott's loyal pal who is more than just your typical sidekick, able to hold off the enemy without fear.
For feminine touch added, there's Barbara Britton as the stagecoach victim of Cleveland's greed and Catherine Craig as a ploy unsuccessfully used by Cleveland. Karolyn Grimes is added as a little girl who takes a shine to Scott after he rescues her from a runaway stagecoach. Portly Jody Gilbert adds more comic relief as Hayes' old lady friend. In all, above average for a seemingly complex western that is anything but typical.
In this case, the big fish is a big toothed piranha stuck in a portly frame, a surprisingly sinister George Cleveland, cast against type as the controlling and crooked town patriarch out to prevent competition at any cost. He's got the law in his pocket, and when one of the stagecoach robbers in custody threatens to squeal, you know his moments on earth are numbered. But the film's hero, Randoloh Scott, ironically Cleveland's nephew, vows to take the ruthless tyrant down, family relations be damned.
This is from the independent team of Pine/Thomas productions whose low budget films were released through Paramount. This is higher budgeted than normal, with an A cast and some really good color photography. Lon Chaney Jr. is appropriately ruthless as Cleveland's henchman, and George "Gabby" Hayes grizzled but gutsy as Scott's loyal pal who is more than just your typical sidekick, able to hold off the enemy without fear.
For feminine touch added, there's Barbara Britton as the stagecoach victim of Cleveland's greed and Catherine Craig as a ploy unsuccessfully used by Cleveland. Karolyn Grimes is added as a little girl who takes a shine to Scott after he rescues her from a runaway stagecoach. Portly Jody Gilbert adds more comic relief as Hayes' old lady friend. In all, above average for a seemingly complex western that is anything but typical.