West of the Law (1942)

The last entry of Monogram Picture Corporation's "Rough Riders" series of eight films, shot at the "Monogram Ranch" in northern Los Angeles County's Placeritas Canyon, this work is a cut below the series norm, not helped by careless direction and editing, unconvincing stuntwork, and some fluffed lines (notably by Jack Daley), but whenever the three principals are on the screen - Buck Jones as Buck Roberts, Tim McCoy as Tim McCall, with Raymond Hatton as Sandy Hopkins - all playing Federal Marshals called upon to aid citizens of a town (Gold Creek, Nevada) infested with a criminal band, the production offers a good deal to enjoy as the trio of stalwarts relies upon its customary guile, cunning and use of disguise to overcome the forces of evil, here led by veteran blackguards of the Western genre Roy Barcroft and dour Harry Woods.