Outlaws' Paradise (1939) Poster

User Reviews

Review this title
3 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
5/10
Despite McCoy's fun performance, clichés and poor writing keep this one from being among his best.
planktonrules31 October 2014
Of all the old B-western heroes, Tim McCoy is among my favorites. Part of this is because in real life he was a bit of a hero--having been a Lt. Colonel in WWI, a Colonel by the end of WWII and was a champion trick shooter in real life. I guess I also like him because he wasn't the pretty- boy cowboy. However, I think the biggest reason is that he COULD act...especially in his 'Lightning' Bill Carson films. In several, he pretended to be a Mexican bandit--and it was a lot of fun seeing McCoy ham it up! So, when I discovered yet another Carson film I was thrilled....so it's a shame it was so ordinary. First, McCoy does NOT play the Mexican once again. Second, the film has a few clichés and poorly written parts that are sure to disappoint.

The film begins with a tough criminal about to leave prison and rejoin his old gang. However, Federal agent Bill Carson has a plan--to impersonate the guy and infiltrate the mob. How can he possibly do that? Well, he and the crook are physical doubles! What a silly cliché!!!! But, I must admit it was fun to watch McCoy playing both roles--and seeing him talk like a 1930s gangster was a hoot! Unfortunately, I knew EXACTLY what would eventually happen--and it did!!! This made the film extremely anticlimactic and the big twist came as absolutely no surprise whatsoever. Worth seeing but certainly among the least in the Carson series.
6 out of 8 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
4/10
Where's the ACLU?
bkoganbing7 December 2015
Warning: Spoilers
An interesting Tim McCoy movie is ruined by a truly bad ending. Or could it be that our cowboy hero was letting his hormones rule. Not the order of the day for a B picture western.

McCoy plays the dual role of Captain Bill Carson of the Texas Rangers and outlaw Mallory who is due to be released from prison shortly. His gang in his absence pulled a bank job and the authorities want not just the men apprehended but the loot recovered. So unofficially the outlaw Mallory's release is quite unofficially held up and Carson the Ranger Captain takes his place.

What you would expect would happen does happen especially after the outlaw Mallory escapes. It's all ending in proper B western cowboy hero fashion.

Where is the ACLU in all of this? Keeping a prisoner illegally after his sentence was up. What a case Mallory might have today.

At least in this western Tim McCoy shows he does have working male hormones which work at the wrong time. Part and parcel of the gang is Mallory's girlfriend Joan Barclay. Yet in the end he lets her go hoping she'll mend her ways. I saw no indication of that, but that sure is an indication that this cowboy had feelings for more than his horse.

All kind of dumb if you ask me.
1 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Gang with a doppelganger
hines-20004 October 2020
Tim McCoy showcases his great acting chops as Captain William Carson and posing as Trigger Mallory. Lightning Carson takes a big risk posing as Trigger with his gang and girlfriend. Some of the outlaws are getting an itchy trigger finger when they realize something just ain't right about about their old leader. Many great western actors here including Ted Adams and Bob Terry. Ben Corbett has a great scene in a loaded dice game. Dave O'Brien later became a comedy writer for Red Skelton Show. I love the western's favorite leading lady in this one, Joan Barclay.
4 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed