A Texas Ranger who’s dedicated so much time to his job that his parents have had to raise his son vows to retire after one last job, escorting a hoodlum named Hood to jail.
The rest of the Hood family, of course, has other ideas. And that final job proves fatal for Ira Landers, who gets no help from fellow ranger Shane Stokesteal (Glynn Preasel).
Flash forward several years and Stokesteal is the corrupt sheriff of Palo Pinto, extracting protection money from the businessmen in town and enforcing his way with a band of gunmen.
Meanwhile, McIntrye’s son Jake (Trent Willmon), longing to become a ranger in his dad’s footsteps, is working on the family farm so he can take care of his granddad.
But they’re destined to meet after a miner shows up in Palo Pinto flashing large nuggets of gold.
Stocksteal tracks him down, kills him, then steals his gold and his claim. Capt. John McIntrye, an old friend of Ira’s, investigates.
Next thing you know, McIntrye is shot, his pretty daughter Kayla is being held captive and another of Ira’s old ranger buddies, Ben Crowder is on the case.
Who does he turn to for assistance? Jake Landers, of course.
Trent Wllmon as Jake Landers, tending farm whle he’d like to follow his father’s footsteps in Palo Pinto Gold (2009)
Glyn Preasal as Shane Stocksteal, corrupt sheriff of Palo Pinto in Palo Pinto Gold (2009)
Review:
I’m sure some people will be tempted to pop this into a DVD because the credits include country singing stars Roy Clark and Mel Tillis. Well, their roles amount to sitting in a barroom and telling the story of the long-ago shootout in their town.
Most of the real acting is left to a cast considerably short on acting talent. The only person who sees at all cozy in front of a camera is Trent Willmon in the role of Jake. Otherwise, these cowpokes are as wooden as the old dime store Indian.
Besides that, there’s a twist at the end and a flashback scene near the end that will press home just how juvenile this whole venture seems. Not the worst of the low-budget Westerns of the 21st century, but not worth 105 minutes of your time either.
Anthony Henslee as Ben Crowder, out to settle an old score in Palo Pinto Gold (2009)
Joanne Goode as Kayla McIntyre, daughter of a Texas Ranger captain in Palo Pinto Gold (2009)
Directed by:
Anthony Henslee
Cast:
Trent Willmon … Jake Landers
Anthony Henslee … Ben Crowder
Joanne Goode … Kayla McIntyre
Glynn Preasel … Shane Stocksteal
Steve Schmidt … Ira Landers
Mel Ellenwood … Capt. John McIntyre
Bill Hart … Grandpa Coy
David King … Hank
Roy Clark … Story Teller
Mel Tillis … Story Teller
Rodney Lay … Reporter
Runtime: 105 min.
Steve Schmidt as Ira Landers, talking about his one last job as a Texas Ranger in Palo Pinto Gold (2009)
Mel Ellenwood as Capt. John McIntyre, heading off to investigate a miner’s murder in Palo Pinto Gold (2009)
Memorable lines:
Ira to Ben, after flicking him on his broken nose: “Ben, I’m trying to get your attention. You almost got yourself killed today. When you’re dealing with bad men, you have to act quick. You don’t have time to think. You either cuff ’em, or club ’em or shoot ’em. Don’t stand around and talk about how their day went.”
One bad man to another, after the outhouse he was using is pulled off a cliff by ranger Ben Crowder: “What happened?”
Fallen bad man: “I don’t know.”
Shane Stocksteal to badly wounded Texas Ranger Ira Landers: “Hey, old man, I thought you were gonna teach me something. I don’t need to know how to die.”
Roy Clark as one of the old timers haring the story of the Palo Pinto shootout in Palo Pinto Gold (2009)
Mel Tillis as one of the old-timers sharing the story of the Palo Pinto shootout in Palo Pinto Gold (2009)
Rodney Lay as the reporter, trying to get the story behind the Palo Pinto shootout in Palo Pinto Gold (2009)
David King as Hank, one of the man working for Stocksteal in Palo Pinto Gold (2009)
Bill Hart as Grandpa Co, the man who raised Jake Landers in Palo PInto Gold (2009)
Trent Willmon as Jake Landers, finding a note indicating Kayla is in trouble in Palo Pinto Gold (2009)
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