This is one of the more solid 'B' Westerns you'll find going back to 1935, with Tim McCoy cast in a dual role as swindled mine owner Slim Braddock, and later as the grown up son Tim Braddock, back for revenge on the outlaw that stole his father's mine claim. The picture even does an admirable job of aging bad guy Williams (Karl Hackett) over the course of the generation that Tim Braddock grows up to manhood, even though McCoy looks closer to his real age of forty four at the time of the film, as opposed to ten years younger as the story suggests. Funny, but this was the first time I noticed McCoy's resemblance to the young Lloyd Bridges, they could have been brothers - take a look!
Probably the most entertaining part of the film had to do with the introduction of explosives expert Bailey, wonderfully portrayed by Paul Fix. If you followed the classic Western TV series 'The Rifleman', you might recognize him as future Marshal of North Fork, Micah Torrance; there are times in the picture that his profile gives it away. Even better, Tim McCoy picks up on Bailey's palaver in a subsequent scene to impersonate someone who actually knows what he's talking about. It's one of the most creative devices I've seen in a Western going back this far.
I had to go back and replay a couple of scenes to be sure, but check out the first time Tim Braddock enters Brennan's mine - there's a sign posted above the entrance that states 'Blue Ridge Mine'. Later, when Braddock and Brennan leave by the same way, the sign is no longer there. It makes it's appearance and disappears again later in the story.
You've got to give credit to the film makers (Puritan Pictures) for maintaining a consistent story throughout, even with the shifting plot elements. It's also one of the few early Westerns where the second billed female lead really doesn't figure very much in the story, even as a romantic interest for McCoy. In fact, she's told a couple of times to mind her own business as the men figure out how to trap villain Williams. Check out the early court room scene that had me scratching my head - when Williams' lawyer objects to the judge! He was over ruled.
Probably the most entertaining part of the film had to do with the introduction of explosives expert Bailey, wonderfully portrayed by Paul Fix. If you followed the classic Western TV series 'The Rifleman', you might recognize him as future Marshal of North Fork, Micah Torrance; there are times in the picture that his profile gives it away. Even better, Tim McCoy picks up on Bailey's palaver in a subsequent scene to impersonate someone who actually knows what he's talking about. It's one of the most creative devices I've seen in a Western going back this far.
I had to go back and replay a couple of scenes to be sure, but check out the first time Tim Braddock enters Brennan's mine - there's a sign posted above the entrance that states 'Blue Ridge Mine'. Later, when Braddock and Brennan leave by the same way, the sign is no longer there. It makes it's appearance and disappears again later in the story.
You've got to give credit to the film makers (Puritan Pictures) for maintaining a consistent story throughout, even with the shifting plot elements. It's also one of the few early Westerns where the second billed female lead really doesn't figure very much in the story, even as a romantic interest for McCoy. In fact, she's told a couple of times to mind her own business as the men figure out how to trap villain Williams. Check out the early court room scene that had me scratching my head - when Williams' lawyer objects to the judge! He was over ruled.