George O'Brien is recruited to head a secret Service for the State of Arizona by the Governor and to woo a very young Laraine Day in this middling episode of his long-running series for RKO.
It starts out well enough with a young Chill Wills as 'Whopper' telling a tall tale, before settling into more standard B mode. It is constricted a bit by the poor print that Turner Classic Movies has available. O'Brien is good, as always and the plot has its moments of excitement, as well as some good cinematography, including some nice stunt work and fighting atop a stage coach. But the short length of the film -- just under an hour -- and its abrupt ending emphasizes its B nature. While it's fine for what it is, you'd be better off starting your addiction to the series with another of O'Brien's westerns. Try the previous year's RENEGADE RANGER or PAINTED DESERT.
It starts out well enough with a young Chill Wills as 'Whopper' telling a tall tale, before settling into more standard B mode. It is constricted a bit by the poor print that Turner Classic Movies has available. O'Brien is good, as always and the plot has its moments of excitement, as well as some good cinematography, including some nice stunt work and fighting atop a stage coach. But the short length of the film -- just under an hour -- and its abrupt ending emphasizes its B nature. While it's fine for what it is, you'd be better off starting your addiction to the series with another of O'Brien's westerns. Try the previous year's RENEGADE RANGER or PAINTED DESERT.