The film opens with a series of shots of a group out outlaws attacking trains and towns while a voice-over informs us that they are the Drago Gang; scourge of Colorado. They strike without warning before retreating into New Mexico Territory outside the jurisdiction of Colorado lawmen. Chad Lucas, Sheriff of the border town of Lodgepole, believes they will be the next victims as a train is due to deliver money for the bank. He and Cap, his deputy, ride out to prevent a robbery but the gang are there first preparing to stop the train. He tells Cap to return to town while he rides ahead to warn the train. He catches up with it and makes his way along the roof towards the engine
not knowing that Cap has followed him! The man he trusted shoots him in the back of the head and leaves him for dead. Once the robbery is over Cap returns to town; claiming to have searched for Chad. Just as he is about to be made the new sheriff Chad staggers in; he is keen to head south into New Mexico but is told they will signal for a US Marshall. Somebody stops the signal being sent so he is given permission to lead a posse south. His first stop is the casino run by Nate Harlan. Drago is there but flees grabbing singer Uvalde as a hostage. They give pursuit along with Harlan; following Drago through Apache territory and over mountains until they finally confront him in is hideout. His task isn't made easier by the fact that he doesn't know of Cap's treachery or the enmity he holds towards him and even when it looks like Chad's worries are over he finds himself in a fight over Uvalde
or Bonnie as he knew her from many years before.
One always knows what you are getting with an Audie Murphy western; plenty of action from start to finish and a good solid hero. The action here includes the attack on the train, a fight against angry Apaches, climbing over a mountain, stampeding horses and a good final shootout. As with many westerns there is a love triangle; it is a little cliché but still adds some interest to the story and provides an excuse to have a beautiful woman, in this case Joan Staley, riding with the posse once they've rescued her. The scenery is pretty impressive; it was tiring just watching them trying to take their horses over the mountain. I found the film to be almost indistinguishable in style from similar films made ten to fifteen years before but that didn't spoil it; if you have a formula that works why fiddle with it?!
One always knows what you are getting with an Audie Murphy western; plenty of action from start to finish and a good solid hero. The action here includes the attack on the train, a fight against angry Apaches, climbing over a mountain, stampeding horses and a good final shootout. As with many westerns there is a love triangle; it is a little cliché but still adds some interest to the story and provides an excuse to have a beautiful woman, in this case Joan Staley, riding with the posse once they've rescued her. The scenery is pretty impressive; it was tiring just watching them trying to take their horses over the mountain. I found the film to be almost indistinguishable in style from similar films made ten to fifteen years before but that didn't spoil it; if you have a formula that works why fiddle with it?!