The Gallant Legion of the title refers to the Texas Rangers who oppose a renegade organization trying to split Texas into different parts prior to it becoming a state.
Heading up the renegade faction is Beau Leroux (Bruce Cabot) who has aspirations of leading a police force in what he calls "West Texas" and thereby controlling the new state. Senator Claude Faulkner (Joseph Schildkraut) supports him but when he fails to get the necessary votes to quash the Texas Rangers, abandons him. Faulkner's niece Connie (Adrian "don't call me Lorna Gray" Booth) is engaged to Leroux.
Soldier of fortune Gary Conway (William "don't call me Wild Bill" Elliott) returns to El Paso to the ranch he shares with his brother Chuck (Hal Landon). He learns that Chuck has joined the renegades in order to acquire enough wealth to give his girl friend Catalina (Adele Mara)what she wants.
Conway runs into an old friend Tom Bannen (James Brown) who pleads with him to join the Texas Rangers. Conway refuses. However in a failed bank robbery attempt with the renegades, Chuck is shot and later dies. Gary then decides to join the Rangers headed up by Capt. Bannen (Jack Holt), Tom's father. There he meets up with Windy Hornblower (Andy Devine) an old friend.
Connie Faulkner meanwhile has become a newspaper correspondent. She has her eye on Conway while still engaged to Leroux. She moves in with the Rangers in order to report on their activities. Her uncle, unbeknownst to her, is altering her reports to discredit the Rangers.
Leroux is planning to involve the Cheyenne in his battle with the Rangers by arming them for a planned attack. The devious Leroux however, has an ulterior motive. He plans to attack the Cheyenne village and have the blame placed upon the Rangers.
While investigating the renegades, Tom Bannen is dry gulched by Leroux and the blame placed upon Conway. Leroux orders the attack and Capt. Bannen mobilizes the Rangers and.............................
Bruce Cabot is particularly nasty as the chief villain. He even gets to fire a Gatling gun on the Rangers. Elliott now departed from his "B" movie days, plays the same low key hero he always played....but he gets to have a whiskey and kiss the girl in this one. Jack Holt makes a tough square jawed Captain of the Rangers. Andy Devine, along for comedy relief, plays...well Andy Devine.
There are plenty of familiar faces in the supporting roles. On the renegade side we have veterans Grant Withers, Hal Taliaferro, Harry Woods, John "Lefty" Cason, George Chesebro, and Glenn Strange. On the Ranger side watch for Marshall Reed, Hank (Mustache) Bell, Chuck Roberson, Cactus Mack, Kermit Maynard and Ben Johnson (whom I didn't spot).
Director Joe Kane gives us plenty of action complete with large groups of riders galloping over the terrain, a saloon fight and plenty of gun play.
One of Republic's best "A" features.
Heading up the renegade faction is Beau Leroux (Bruce Cabot) who has aspirations of leading a police force in what he calls "West Texas" and thereby controlling the new state. Senator Claude Faulkner (Joseph Schildkraut) supports him but when he fails to get the necessary votes to quash the Texas Rangers, abandons him. Faulkner's niece Connie (Adrian "don't call me Lorna Gray" Booth) is engaged to Leroux.
Soldier of fortune Gary Conway (William "don't call me Wild Bill" Elliott) returns to El Paso to the ranch he shares with his brother Chuck (Hal Landon). He learns that Chuck has joined the renegades in order to acquire enough wealth to give his girl friend Catalina (Adele Mara)what she wants.
Conway runs into an old friend Tom Bannen (James Brown) who pleads with him to join the Texas Rangers. Conway refuses. However in a failed bank robbery attempt with the renegades, Chuck is shot and later dies. Gary then decides to join the Rangers headed up by Capt. Bannen (Jack Holt), Tom's father. There he meets up with Windy Hornblower (Andy Devine) an old friend.
Connie Faulkner meanwhile has become a newspaper correspondent. She has her eye on Conway while still engaged to Leroux. She moves in with the Rangers in order to report on their activities. Her uncle, unbeknownst to her, is altering her reports to discredit the Rangers.
Leroux is planning to involve the Cheyenne in his battle with the Rangers by arming them for a planned attack. The devious Leroux however, has an ulterior motive. He plans to attack the Cheyenne village and have the blame placed upon the Rangers.
While investigating the renegades, Tom Bannen is dry gulched by Leroux and the blame placed upon Conway. Leroux orders the attack and Capt. Bannen mobilizes the Rangers and.............................
Bruce Cabot is particularly nasty as the chief villain. He even gets to fire a Gatling gun on the Rangers. Elliott now departed from his "B" movie days, plays the same low key hero he always played....but he gets to have a whiskey and kiss the girl in this one. Jack Holt makes a tough square jawed Captain of the Rangers. Andy Devine, along for comedy relief, plays...well Andy Devine.
There are plenty of familiar faces in the supporting roles. On the renegade side we have veterans Grant Withers, Hal Taliaferro, Harry Woods, John "Lefty" Cason, George Chesebro, and Glenn Strange. On the Ranger side watch for Marshall Reed, Hank (Mustache) Bell, Chuck Roberson, Cactus Mack, Kermit Maynard and Ben Johnson (whom I didn't spot).
Director Joe Kane gives us plenty of action complete with large groups of riders galloping over the terrain, a saloon fight and plenty of gun play.
One of Republic's best "A" features.