Pony Express Rider (1976)

Stewart Peterson is Jimmie D. Richardson, a young man in love with Rose of Sharon (Maureen McCormick).

The problem is, her brother Bovey (Buck Taylor) doesn’t approve of the romance because Jimmie’s the son of a dirt-poor goat farmer.

And when Bovey finds Jimmie and Rose of Sharon together, he ropes them, drags them, then beats Jimmie senseless.

Jimmie’s dad Jed (Ken Curtis) has his own problems. Rancher Trevor Kingman (Henry Wilcoxon), Bovey’s dad, wants Jed to clear his goats off the land he’s living on to make more room for Kingman cattle.

And since he’s been offered the position of governor of Nevada, he’s going to leave Bovey behind to oversee the operation.

Bovey wastes no time trying to move the Richardsons off the land. And when that provokes a barroom brawl with Jed Richardson, Bovey’s beaten to a pulp, but manages to shoot the older man in the back.

Bovey flees. But Jimmie sets off in pursuit, accepting a job riding for the Pony Express in order to make his way West.

Stewart Peterson as Jimmie D. Richardson, meeting a stranger with a mean six-gun in Pony Express Rider (1976)

Buck Taylor as Bovey Richardson, catching Jimmie D. and his sister together in Pony Express Rider (1976)

Review:

A bizarre film with a plot that stretches the bounds of credibility over and over again, but manages to find time for cameos for several familiar faces (Jack Elam, Slim Pickens and Dub Taylor, for instance).

First off, Jimmie’s dad is offered a chance to help run Trevor Kingman’s cattle operation. Why would he insist on putting his family in danger to raise goats?

Second, why is a Texas cattleman being offered a chance to become govenor of Nevada? Ah, the answer comes much later, but is no less confusing when it comes.

And, finally, why in the world would Jimmie join the Pony Express to head West? In fact, wouldn’t having a Pony Express route delay his quest for vengeance?

Maureen McCormick of Brady Bunch fame (Marcia, 1969-1974) plays Rose of Sharon, but disappears for the bulk of the film. She was 20 at the time, four years older than Peterson, who would appear in just one more film.

The better performances come from “Gunsmoke” veterans Curtis and Buck Taylor. who’s quite convincing early in the film as the spoiled son of a rich rancher who loves throwing his daddy’s weight around.

Henry Wilcoxon as Trevor Kingman, learning of a plan to use his governorship to futher the Southern cause in Pony Express Rider (1976)

Maureen McCormick as Rose of Sharon, telling brother Bovey of her plans to marry Jimmie D. in Pony Express Rider (1976)

Directed by:
Robert Totten

Cast:
Stewart Peterson … Jimmie D. Richardson
Henry Wilcoxon … Trevor Kingman
Buck Taylor … Bovey Kingman
Maureen McCormick … Rose of Sharon
Ken Curtis … Jed Richardson
Joan Caulfield … Charlotte
Slim Pickens … Bob Jay
Dub Taylor … Boomer Riley
Ace Reid … Bullfrog Frey
Jack Elam … Crazy Charlie
Larry D. Mann … Blackmore
James Almanzar … Puddin

Runtime: 100 min.

Ken Curtis as Jed Richardson, preparing to confront Bovey Kingman over his dad’s orders in Pony Express Rider (1976)

Slim Pickins as Bob Jay, the Pony Express station manager who hires Jimmie D. Richardson as a rider in Pony Express Rider (1976)

Memorable lines:

Trevor Kingman: “You move them goats and join up with us or get he hell off the Triple X.”
Jed Richardson: “Trevor, you keep spoutin’ off about us being lifelong friends. You give a man a charitable leg up and just when he starts gettin’ his confidence back and doin’ something, you kick the props out from under him. Well, I’m sorry that you ain’t got no one but Bovey to run this ranch for ya while you’re up in Nevada playin’ governor. But it ain’t my fault that you forgot who and what you are, neither. You’re a cowboy, Trevor. A rich one now. But you ain’t no governor. Just a cowboy.”

Bob Jay, swearing Jimmie in as a Pony Express Rider: “I do here swear, before the great and livin’ God, that durin’ my engagement and while I am in employ of Russell, Majors and Waddell …”
Bullfrog, interrupting: “That’s who we work for.”
Bob Jay: “I will under no circumstances use profane language. That means no cussin’. And that I will drink no intoxicatin’ liquors. That means you don’t get fallin’ down drunk.”

Bob Jay: “Damn Comanches. Them red heathens. Next thing you know, everybody in the territory will be dead. Somebody oughta do something about that. Just a damned shame.”

Trevor Kingman, upon hearing what’s expected of him as governor of Nevada: “Trevor Kingman don’t fit into nobody’s plans. I make plans.”

Dub Taylor as Boomer Riley, welcoming an orphaned niece in Pony Express Rider (1976)

Joan Caulfield as Charlotte, the saloon owner who promises to tell Bovey when Jimmie rides into town in Pony Express Rider (1976)

Jack Elam as Crazy Charlie, the wanted man who keeps talking of an imaginery gang in Pony Express Rider (1976)

Stewart Peterson as Jimmie D. Richardson, setting out on his trail of revenge in Pony Express Rider (1976)