During the course of Republic Studio's Three Mesquiteer series, the composition of this do-gooding trio changed regularly. It changed so often it's hard to keep track of the three actors and the best way to follow the cast change is to look at the excellent Wikipedia article about these films. While he only appeared in about a half dozen of these movies, John Wayne was one of the actors who played 'Stony'....and these Mesquiteer films are a tad better than the rest.
"Wyoming Outlaw" is one of the strangest Mesquiteer films I have seen, if not the strangest. This is because the trio seem more like observers of the action instead of doing what they usually do...solve folks' problems. It also has an incredibly downbeat message...one that must have annoyed audiences, though I appreciated it because all too often the films had nice, happy....and dull endings!
This story finds a senator taking advantage of the folks in his district. Unless people 'voluntarily' contribute to his re-election fund, they suddenly find themselves without jobs or at his henchmen's mercy. The Parker family tries to stand up to these mobsters and the Mesquiteers stand with them.
This film is interesting for some of the actors appearing in the film. Aside from the Mesquiteers (Wayne, Ray Corrigan and Raymond Hatton), 'Red' Barry, Charles Middleton and Elmo Lincoln provide support. Barry was famous for starring in the Red Ryder series, Middleton was 'Ming the Merciless' in the Buck Rogers serial and Lincoln was the screen's first Tarzan, back in 1918.
Overall, a very good installment simply because it isn't all neatly tied up at the end and good doesn't completely triumph over evil.