Gunning for Justice (1948) User Reviews

Monogram Brown Western

[nova-63 · 6/10 · 5 April 2010]

Pretty solid Johnny Mack Brown B' Western. I. Stanford Jolley is an ex-lawman who wants a cache of gold bullion stolen many years previously. The last living member of the gang that stole the gold is released from prison and Jolley has his gang follow him to learn the whereabouts of the gold. After a confrontation, the ex-convict is shot by Jolley's gang and left for dead. Along comes Johnny, who is the area buying cattle. The dying man gives Johnny a piece of paper with instructions to give it to "Ed". Now this isn't much to go on but Johnny heads into town to complete his cattle buying deal.

The ranch owner with the cattle is a pretty gal named Winnie. After some time, Johnny learns that Winnie's correct name is Edwina and he suspects she may be the "Ed" he has been looking for. The only problem is that Jolley has now arrived and he is determined to get his hands on the paper Johnny now holds. Jolley's plan is to get the sheriff and Winnie to believe that Johnny is a crook after the gold for himself.

Johnny Takes Note!

[bsmith5552 · 6/10 · 19 May 2020]

"Gunning for Justice" is an oddity in the long running Johnny Mack Brown series for Monogram Pictures. First there are two sidekicks, Raymond Hatton and Max Terhune (and Elmer) and second, there were a lot more extras than usual for the poverty row low budget oater. Hatton would leave the series after six years shortly and Terhune would replace him. I'm not sure what happened whether Hatton was let go or left on his own. In any event, he worked steadily until his death in 1971 at the age of 84.

Lem Toliver (Ted Adams) is released from federal prison after serving a term for the robbery of a $500K gold shipment bound for the confederacy during the American Civil War. He is the only survivor of the gang that stole and hid the loot. Toliver is met by "a friend of a friend" Curt Wheeler (House Peters Jr.) He brings him to Blake (I. Stanford Jolley) who was part of the army unit that caught the gang and knows that Toliver holds the secret of the location of the gold.

Toliver manages to get away from Blake and his gang but is pursued by them. He gets into a gun battle with them and is shot just a cattle buyer Johnny Mack (Brown) intervenes and drives away the gang. Toliver gives Johnny a note showing where the gold is hidden for a person named "Ed". Toliver dies before he can give more details. Blake is aware that Johnny possesses the note and plans to get it from him.

In town, Johnny runs into old pal Banty (Hatton) and his partner Alibi Parsons and his "pal" Elmer who are running a medicine show. Johnny asks them if they know the mysterious "Ed". He also goes to the sheriff (Dan White) who is also not able to help. Ranch Winnie Stewart (Evelyn Finley) hires Banty and Alibi when the sheriff takes back most of the proceeds of their snake oil sales.

Johnny and the sheriff goe to Winnie's ranch and confirm that she is the "ed"Blake, meanwhile, goes to Winnie's ranch and by chance learns that her real name is Edwina...i.e. Ed from the slovenly cook (Bud Osborne). Johnny too figures out that Winnie is the "Ed" in Question. Blake cozies up to Winnie and convinces her that Johnny and friends are plotting against her to get to the gold. He convinces her to give him the note and the two go in search of the gold.

Blake follows the directions and finds the buried loot. Then he reveals his true colors as his gang rides up. Winnie manages to escape and is followed by the gang. Johnny, Banty and Alibi intercept her and do battle with the outlaws. Johnny confronts Blake at the dig site and..........................

Hatton and Terhune had both been in the Three Mesquiteers series at different times ten years earlier. Terhune brought his pal Elmer along and performs a routine with him during the medicine show. Bob Woodward, Carol Henry and Boyd Stockton play members of Jolley's gang.