Backtrack! (1969)

Doug McClure is Trampas, a fun-loving, womanizing cowboy who frowns at a hard day’s work.

But he finds himself in need of a payday, so he takes a job as a hand at Shiloh Ranch, where he takes his orders from The Virginian (James Drury).

His latest order: Head to Mexico to collect an expensive bull Shiloh’s owner has purchased.

And don’t engage in womanizing, gambling or drinking along the way.

Trampas is quenching his thirst at a saloon in Laredo and flirting with another man’s woman when he encounters a trio of Texas Rangers.

Reese Bennett (Neville Brand), Chad Cooper (Peter Brown) and Joe Riley (William Smith) all find a reason to want a showdown with Trampas.

But that will have to wait. A train carrying a gold shipment has gone missing, and their captain orders them to find it.

Since the trail leads to Texas, Trampas tags along, not knowing that’s going to lead him into trouble with Mexican authorities and into a battle with the Yaqui Indians.

Doug McClure as Trampas, a young cowhand mostly interested in women and gambling in Backtrack! (1969)

William Smith as Joe Riley, finding himself in a quick dispute with Trampas in Backtrack! (1969)

Review:

By 1969, the Laredo TV series had been cancelled. The Virginian was nearing the end of a nine-year run.

This feature film was created by editing together two episodes of The Virginian, one of which features the cast of Laredo.

It’s heavy on humor, something McClure is much better at pulling off than our three Texas Rangers.

At one point in this film, they even find themselves caring for a baby, the sole survivor of the aforementioned train robbery.

But don’t get confused. These aren’t The Three Godfathers. They dump the baby on one of Reese’s lady friends the first chance they get.

That part is played by Ida Lupino, looking rather matronly as she approached age 50. Rhonda Fleming, veteran of many a 1950 Western, plays a saloon owner and was still quite fetching in her 40s.

Neville Brand as Texas Ranger Reese Bennett, crossing paths with Trampas for the first time in Backtrack! (1969)

Peter Brown as Chad Cooper, arguing about who has first dibs on a gunfight with Trampas in Backtrack! (1969)

Director:
Earl Bellamy

Cast:
Doug McClure … Trampas
Neville Brand … Reese Bennett
Peter Brown … Chad Cooper
William Smith … Joe Riley
James Drury … Ramrod
Ida Lupino … Mama Dolores
Rhonda Fleming … Carmelita Flanagan
James Drury … Ramrod
Philip Carey … Edward Parmalee
Fernando Lamas .. Capt. Estrada
Royal Dano … Faraway
Gary Clarke … Steve
Randy Boone … Randy
L.Q. Jones … Belden
Carol Byron … Winnie
Ross Elliott … Sheriff Abbott

Runtime: 95 min.

Rhonda Fleming as Carmelita Flanagan, trying to keep Trampas out of harm’s way in Backtrack! (1969)

Ida Lupino as Mama Dolores, holding the infant the Rangers find on a train that’s been robbed in Backtrack! (1969)

Memorable lines:

Reese Bennett, explaining to the Mexicans why they should use rifles rather than six-guns for the firing squad: “Rifles hit harder. They make you bounce.”

Carmelita Flanagan, when Trampas crosses paths with Reese Bennett: “You better stay where you are, cowboy. I don’t like to see new customers get killed.”

Reese Bennett, after being decked by Trampas: “I buried the last man who even came close to knocking me down.”
Trampas: “What’d he die of.”

Joe Riley, itching for a fight with the Mexicans who greet the Rangers when they cross the Rio Grande: “We might get a little fun out of this yet.”
Reese Bennett: “Not with an armful of baby. We’re going back.”

James Drury as The Virginian, giving Trampas orders to head to Mexico to pick up a prized bull in Backtrack! (1969)

Royal Dano as aging Shiloh ranch hand Faraway, realizing the ring Trampas is trying to sell him for $50 is a piece of junk in Backtrack! (1969)

Randy Boone as Randy, a young ranch hand entertaining the bunkhouse with one of his songs in Backtrack! (1969)

Philip Carey as Edward Parmalee, trying to find out what his men where doing south of the border in Backtrack! (196)

Fernando Lamas as Capt. Estrada, ordering the Texas Ranger trio out of Mexico in Backtrack! (1969)

Neville Brand as Reese Bennett, Peter Brown as Joe Riley and WIlliam Smith as Chad Cooper, trying to explain their most recent adventure in Backtrack! (1969)