Road Agent (1952) User Reviews

Enjoyable albeit routine Tim Holt western.

[tankjonah · 6/10 · 22 June 2006]

Two cowboys (Tim Holt, Richard Martin)help cattle drivers against a ruthless land baron (Stanley Blystone) by stealing from him and giving the drivers the money so that they have enough money to buy a permit from him that will allow them to move their cattle across his land.

Watchable Tim Holt western, typically fast paced and quite enjoyable, albeit routine. There are a number of shoot outs, bar room brawls and obligatory love interests thrown in to please fans of the genre looking for a decent time waster. Holt ensures that the audience knows that he and Martin are inspired by Robin Hood by explicitly making reference to the famed man's deeds.

More plot than usual

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 8 June 2019]

In this western Tim Holt and Richard Martin are forced to turn into Robin Hood like outlaws when they see town boss Mauritz Hugo extorts money out of all the ranchers and others with his toll road. But things do get complicated in this film which has a bit more plot to it than the usual Tim Holt westerns.

Two women figure prominently in this film. Noreen Nash plays the cowgirl daughter of one of the extorted ranchers and Dorothy Patrick is a saloon girl and one of Chito's old flames. She's one smart cookie.

One of Hugo henchmen Robert J. Wilkie has an interesting part.. He's fired for incompetence by Hugo and before the film is over Hugo wishes he hadn't done it. You'll have to see the film to find out the what and why.

Tim Holt fans won't be disappointed.

Tim and Chito become Robin Hoods

[srwb6 · 7/10 · 13 November 2012]

Tim and Chito disguise themselves as Robin Hoods when they arrive at a small town to discover that local landowner Milo Brand who owns the road to the cattle market is charging criminal rates to cross the toll area.

They give the money they take from him back to the ranchers who can then afford the permits, but when Brand's clerk is murdered during a hold-up, the guilty party makes it look like the work of the Robin Hoods.

One of the last pairings of Tim & Chito sees Tim rather than Chito end up with the girl. Robert J Wilke is his usual villainous role & silent star Tom Tyler has one of his final roles as Larkin.

An enjoyable 60 minute B western perfect for a Saturday morning viewing!

Road agent

[coltras35 · 6/10 · 17 April 2023]

Brand controls the only road to the cattle market and is charging exorbitant rates. Tim and Chito rob Brand to recover only their overcharge, but accidentally end up with all of Brand's money... so they give it to the ranchers who then give it back to Brand so they can move their cattle. But there is trouble when that money is then stolen and Brand's clerk is murdered.

One of Brand's henchmen Robert J. Wilkie has a meatier part than what henchmen usually get. When he gets fired by Brand he causes a lot of problems such as stealing From his former boss and leaving a note saying Robin Hood. A calling card of Tim Holt and Chito who have decided to help the ranchers pay the exorbitant prices Brand is charging. Robin Hood style.

This is a watchable Holt western with some fine twist and turns and an interesting henchman.

Reasonably entertaining!

[JohnHowardReid · 5/10 · 25 March 2018]

Copyright 8 February 1952 by RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. No New York opening. U.S. release: 29 March 1952. No recorded U.K. release date. Australian release: 26 August 1954. 6 reels. 60 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: "The exciting story deals with the adventures of Holt and Martin who become angry when they are over-charged for the right to travel over a private road... Fast, hard-riding, quick-shooting entertainment, this thriller was ably directed by Lesley Selander from the sparkling story by Norman Houston." - RKO publicity.

COMMENT: Like Pistol Harvest (1951), this is a leisurely Houston-written western, with another solid role for Bob Wilke. Selander has directed with his usual competence, though hampered by a smaller budget than Pistol Harvest or Riders of the Range (1950).

Production values are thus not particularly impressive.

What's worse, most oater fans will probably not take too kindly to the disproportionate amount of talk to action.