"The Last Bandit" is a Trucolor "A" list western from the western factory, Republic Pictures. It's a good brother versus bad brother story.
Frank and Jim Plummer (William "don't call me Wild Bill" Elliot, Forrest Tucker) are wanted criminals from Missouri in the James Brothers vein. Frank has reformed and changed his name to Norris working for railroad owner Mort Pemberton (Jack Holt). Jim is about to be married to Kate Foley (Adrian Booth - aka Lorna Gray) when slimy Ed Bagley (Grant Withers) talks her into going to Nevada to participate in the robbing of a gold train on which Frank is the guard.
Saloon Madam Winnie McPhail (Mima Gombell) is the mastermind behind the plot. Kate is assigned the task of winning over Frank to their cause. But, darn it, she falls in love with him. Then Jim and his gang show up. Frank refuses to go along and is despondent over what Kate has done. Jim proceeds with the robbery with Frank being shot during the process.
The gang hides the train in an abandoned mine cave by using a long forgotten railway spur. Frank recovers and pursues the train (on foot, mind you) to the cave. He learns of Kate's true feelings. After blasting the safe, the whole front of the mountain under which the train sits, collapses. A posse headed by Pemberton, Casey Brown (Andy Devine) and the sheriff ( Hank Bell with his trade mark mustache) close in and...............................................
Republic employed some of the best stunt men in the business. There's a bang up fight between Elliott and Tucker's characters that is as good as you'll ever see. The Lydecker brothers were equally adept at providing special effects. Witness their miniatures of the train backing into the mountain cave and the collapse of the mountain.
Elliott plays his role straight and shows little emotion although he does get to kiss the leading lady, a feat he would never have accomplished is his "B" movie days. It's interesting to note that Andy Devine refers to him as "son" even though he was actually a year younger than Elliott. Tucker turns in his usual excellent performance as the bad brother. Grant Withers had once been a leading man and makes a swarthy villain here.
Other recognizable players in the cast include the likes of Stanley Andrews, Martin Garralaga, George Chesebro, Steve Clark, Rex Lease, Gene Roth, Emmett Lynn and Charles Middleton in various parts.
A good western.
Frank and Jim Plummer (William "don't call me Wild Bill" Elliot, Forrest Tucker) are wanted criminals from Missouri in the James Brothers vein. Frank has reformed and changed his name to Norris working for railroad owner Mort Pemberton (Jack Holt). Jim is about to be married to Kate Foley (Adrian Booth - aka Lorna Gray) when slimy Ed Bagley (Grant Withers) talks her into going to Nevada to participate in the robbing of a gold train on which Frank is the guard.
Saloon Madam Winnie McPhail (Mima Gombell) is the mastermind behind the plot. Kate is assigned the task of winning over Frank to their cause. But, darn it, she falls in love with him. Then Jim and his gang show up. Frank refuses to go along and is despondent over what Kate has done. Jim proceeds with the robbery with Frank being shot during the process.
The gang hides the train in an abandoned mine cave by using a long forgotten railway spur. Frank recovers and pursues the train (on foot, mind you) to the cave. He learns of Kate's true feelings. After blasting the safe, the whole front of the mountain under which the train sits, collapses. A posse headed by Pemberton, Casey Brown (Andy Devine) and the sheriff ( Hank Bell with his trade mark mustache) close in and...............................................
Republic employed some of the best stunt men in the business. There's a bang up fight between Elliott and Tucker's characters that is as good as you'll ever see. The Lydecker brothers were equally adept at providing special effects. Witness their miniatures of the train backing into the mountain cave and the collapse of the mountain.
Elliott plays his role straight and shows little emotion although he does get to kiss the leading lady, a feat he would never have accomplished is his "B" movie days. It's interesting to note that Andy Devine refers to him as "son" even though he was actually a year younger than Elliott. Tucker turns in his usual excellent performance as the bad brother. Grant Withers had once been a leading man and makes a swarthy villain here.
Other recognizable players in the cast include the likes of Stanley Andrews, Martin Garralaga, George Chesebro, Steve Clark, Rex Lease, Gene Roth, Emmett Lynn and Charles Middleton in various parts.
A good western.