The story of two teens trying to escape their life in Red Rock. Cal Bowman (Gary Murray) is constantly getting into fights with townsfolk because his brother is a wanted outlaw. Janie Acker is a young girl saddled with an abusive stepfather.
They fall for one another and run off from Red Rock together, with a posse and some bloodthirsty Apaches on their trail after a strange twist.
The gang with which Cal’s brother is involved turns up at Cal’s home. Seems his brother has been mortally wounded; the gang wants Cal to check out the Red Rock express office so they can rob it and steal enough money to get his brother the medical help he needs.
Cal, faced with the choice of helping out or being shot, agrees. But the robbery goes all wrong. Two innocent bystanders are shot and the outlaw with the loot is gunned down during the getaway. Some folks blame Cal for the murders, so he’s forced to run as well, with Janie in tow.
Review:
Brian Donlevy is the top-billed performer, but has a minor role as Bronc Grierson, leader of the outlaw band. Jay Flippen plays the tough sheriff, who tries to set both Cal and Janie straight.
There’s nothing here to lift this above the run-of-the-mill, though you have to feel for Janie and Cal, who can’t seem to catch a break.
As for Donlevy getting top billing, it’s little wonder. Murray appeared in just one other film and a couple of TV shows. Janssen was a former child actor and just 19 when this film was released.
That said, Janssen was no stranger to Westerns. In the late 1940s, Republic Pictures launched a search for a “junior Roy and Dale (Rogers)” who would become the Rough Ridin’ Kids. Jannsen was cast as Judy Dawson; Michael Champin as “Red” White in what turned out to be a series of four films released in 1951 and 1952, beginning with “Buckaroo Sheriff of Texas.”
Directed by:
Edward Bernds
Cast:
Brian Donlevy … Bronc Grierson
Eilene Janssen … Janie Acker
Gary Murray … Cal Bowman
Jay C. Flippen … John Costaine
William Phipps … Arky Shanks
Myron Healey … Joe Skinner
Nesdon Booth … Pete Archer
Runtime: 75 min.
Memorable lines:
Janie Acker: “When my mother was alive, he got drunk and beat her. Now he gets drunk and beats me.”
John Costaine: “You sure you didn’t warrant it? All kids need a good whoppin’ now and then.”
Bronc Grierson: “There’s a sawbones up in Selano. He’s as crooked as a sidewinder’s track in the sand, but he’s a good doctor.”
Posse member #1: “What charge you takin’ ’em back on? Must be something pretty serious.”
Posse member #2: “Sure is. He beat up a whiskey-guzzling old man, who had it coming. Then they borrowed a couple saddle horses from him that he probably cheated somebody out of in the first place.”
Posse member #1: “Sounds like desperate doings to me.”
Sheriff Costaine: “Big laws, little laws. People got to find out they can’t spit on any of ’em.”
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