Another in a long string of Western movies capitalizing on historical names from the past, and teaming them up to present a fictional but entertaining tale of good guys versus bad guys in the Old West of the 1880's. George Montgomery heads up the cast as undercover lawman Matt Sloan, captain of the Arizona Rangers. He's on the trail of a silver smuggling operation and a trio of baddies - Johnny Ringo (Jim Davis), Ike Clanton (Gerald Milton) and Curly Bill Brosius (Lane Bradford). The action takes place on both sides of the Arizona/Mexican border, though not much is revealed about the Mexican side of the operation.
There's a human interest element thrown in with the presence of Matt Sloan's son Terry (Scotty Morrow), on the run from Ike Clanton who he saw kill his mother to set up the early part of the story. Terry's taken in by the pretty daughter (Beverly Tyler) of the Tombstone Assay Office owner, thereby staging one of the most understated romantic interests you'll find in a B Western. You should probably see it coming, but because the assayer (Don Beddoe) seems like such a good guy and loyal citizen, the revelation that he gives Johnny Ringo his orders almost comes out of left field. You don't have time to dwell on it though, as Ike and Ringo take him out in short order.
With all the tension built into a final showdown between Sloan and Ringo, I was left scratching my head over the film's resolution. Taken as a hostage, Terry is simply let go, as Sloan dispatches both Ringo and Ike Clanton right out in the open. It almost seemed like a no contest after all the build up that went before.
I liked George Montgomery in this one. He didn't show a lot of range in his style here, but I guess he didn't have to. He had sort of a Randolph Scott approach to the role, right down to the black shirt he wore for most of the picture. I don't know about that bandanna though, it looked like a misplaced fashion statement.
There's a human interest element thrown in with the presence of Matt Sloan's son Terry (Scotty Morrow), on the run from Ike Clanton who he saw kill his mother to set up the early part of the story. Terry's taken in by the pretty daughter (Beverly Tyler) of the Tombstone Assay Office owner, thereby staging one of the most understated romantic interests you'll find in a B Western. You should probably see it coming, but because the assayer (Don Beddoe) seems like such a good guy and loyal citizen, the revelation that he gives Johnny Ringo his orders almost comes out of left field. You don't have time to dwell on it though, as Ike and Ringo take him out in short order.
With all the tension built into a final showdown between Sloan and Ringo, I was left scratching my head over the film's resolution. Taken as a hostage, Terry is simply let go, as Sloan dispatches both Ringo and Ike Clanton right out in the open. It almost seemed like a no contest after all the build up that went before.
I liked George Montgomery in this one. He didn't show a lot of range in his style here, but I guess he didn't have to. He had sort of a Randolph Scott approach to the role, right down to the black shirt he wore for most of the picture. I don't know about that bandanna though, it looked like a misplaced fashion statement.