Second string studio, Republic Pictures, made many D-grade westerns over the years, although a few A listers squeezed their way in over the years, mostly those starring John Wayne in the 1940's and early 1950's. This is closer to "A" grade than "B", "C" or "D", mainly because it features a more involved script than normal, a believable conflict, and contract stars who worked in various genres other than westerns. Two future TV stars, Forrest Tucker and Jim Davis, are partners in a popular town saloon, but a falling out has made Davis decide to cash out and leave, especially if he can wed the pretty widowed Adele Mara who is in town to discover the truth about how her brother, an apparent rogue, was killed, and why. Son Peter Miles finds the town bullies beating him up simply because of who his uncle was. The mystery of how and why also involves the sultry Estellita Rodriguez, the saloon singer who was involved with the deceased. But as the engagement between Davis and Mara gets closer, details are revealed about him that sets former friend Tucker off on the trail for the truth and leads them all to a dangerous conclusion at the edge of a cliff where all is revealed.
In the lower grade westerns, there's never a plot as detailed as this, because many of the smaller details are always left out to keep the running time at just an hour, sometimes even less. Showing two westerns or one western and one mystery or one western and a horror film running a total of two hours got the kiddie audience in on Saturday afternoons, so for a bigger budgeted picture like this, they were usually shown later in the day while the double bills dominated the late morning and early afternoon shows. There's some light comedy relief in this from Charles Kemper as a cynical sheriff whose deadpan reactions to the goings on adds a lightness to the film that is a nice change over the grizzled hero sidekicks in most B westerns. Mara is a strong heroine, standing up to the villain without fear, and young Miles gives a very good performance as her very brave son. Tucker and Davis are quite a contrast to each other as well as their later TV roles, with Tucker more grizzled on "F Troop" and Davis more commanding as Jock Ewing in the first few years of "Dallas". This might not be a classic like "High Noon", but it is definitely worth a discovery!
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