In this action-filled budget western, Eddie Dean rides into Red Gap to visit his pal, soapy, who has opened a barber shop and finds his old singing buddies (The Plainsmen) have found ranch jobs near the town. This calls for a song and Eddie was one of the best singing cowboys around and an even better songwriter. He gets to warble three in this film, none of them standouts - Maybe it's because Eddie only wrote one of them and he was a co-composer on it. Leave it to the Hollywood moguls to have others write songs for one of the best songsters of the day.
Soapy was funny-looking, but not very funny, although he did appeal to the kids. Soapy is not as dopey as usual and is actually a help rather than a hindrance to Eddie this go-round.
There is a bevy of cowboy character actors with Stan Jolley leading the pack as the heinous Taggert, the boss of the town...or is he? Bill Fawcett is possibly the most recognizable of the bad guys, this time playing a corrupt judge in collusion with Taggert. Others such as Marshall Reed as a gunslinger have only brief parts but make the most of their short time before the camera. A standout performance is given by henchman Mikel Conrad. One wonders why his film career was so short-lived.
The title actually has to do with the plot for a change. Determined to clean up Red Gap, Eddie becomes sheriff and demands that everyone check his guns while inside the town limits. Those who refuse must pay the price. Cleaning up Red Gap is not as easy as first believed. There are twists and turns along the way that make room for plenty of shoot-outs, gun plays, and one fisticuffs between Eddie and Mikel Conrad (Ace) that actually looks real with Eddie almost being bested by Ace.
The love interest is provided by Nancy Gates as Cathy Jordan, whose father was killed by the Taggert gang and who now wants justice. Nancy was a beauty and does a rousing job at the end of the film helping Eddie sing the closing number.
Even non-Eddie Dean fans should enjoy this one...that is those who like Saturday matinée fodder the way I do.
Soapy was funny-looking, but not very funny, although he did appeal to the kids. Soapy is not as dopey as usual and is actually a help rather than a hindrance to Eddie this go-round.
There is a bevy of cowboy character actors with Stan Jolley leading the pack as the heinous Taggert, the boss of the town...or is he? Bill Fawcett is possibly the most recognizable of the bad guys, this time playing a corrupt judge in collusion with Taggert. Others such as Marshall Reed as a gunslinger have only brief parts but make the most of their short time before the camera. A standout performance is given by henchman Mikel Conrad. One wonders why his film career was so short-lived.
The title actually has to do with the plot for a change. Determined to clean up Red Gap, Eddie becomes sheriff and demands that everyone check his guns while inside the town limits. Those who refuse must pay the price. Cleaning up Red Gap is not as easy as first believed. There are twists and turns along the way that make room for plenty of shoot-outs, gun plays, and one fisticuffs between Eddie and Mikel Conrad (Ace) that actually looks real with Eddie almost being bested by Ace.
The love interest is provided by Nancy Gates as Cathy Jordan, whose father was killed by the Taggert gang and who now wants justice. Nancy was a beauty and does a rousing job at the end of the film helping Eddie sing the closing number.
Even non-Eddie Dean fans should enjoy this one...that is those who like Saturday matinée fodder the way I do.