Mala Powers is Rose, so named by the Cherokee family that adopted her following an attack on the wagon train in which her parents where traveling. Both were killed, but Rose was hidden by her mother.
Twenty years later, Rose’s adopted parents are ruthlessly gunned down by three outlaws in need of fresh horses to make their escape after a bank robbery in Granville Junction.
Rose and her Indian brother set out to find the killers, and enlist the assistance of the local marshal (Jack Buetel), who immediately takes a liking to the young beauty.
But when she locates two of the outlaws and guns them down, the marshal has no option but to put Rose in jail to await trial. He’s working to secure her release when she and an old outlaw named Deacon are broken out of jail by another of her male admirers, George Newcomb.
Now Rose is on the run from the law, the gang has its sight set on a gold shipment, the marshal in on everyone’s trail and Rose has no idea of the real identity of the man who set her free.
Review:
Mala Powers turns in a sassy performance as Rose, and there are some nice comic touches early in the film — like when Rose helps yank the marshal into the carriage they’re traveling in because he just helped her aboard. Having lived all her life with her Cherokee family, she’s unaware that he was just doing the gentlemanly thing.
Unfortunately, all those comic touches disappear once the action starts and the film becomes routine in almost every way.
This marked the first Western for Powers. Buetel, of course, starred in 1941’s controversial “The Outlaw.” And you might not recognize Jim Davis in the role of Rose’s brother. He barely speaks in the film.
Directed by:
Harry Keller
Cast:
Mala Powers … Rose
Jack Buetel … Marshal Hollister
Bill Williams … George Newcomb
Jim Davis … Willie Whitewater
Art Smith … Deacon
Bob Steele … Rio
William Phipps … Jeb Dawley
Dick Curtis … Clem Dawley
Alex Gerry … Juge Kirby
Lillian Bronson .. Emmy Anders
Irving Bacon … Sheriff Anders
Art Smith … Deacon
Monte Blue … Lone Eagle
Argentina Brunetti … Red Fawn
Runtime: 72 min.
Memorable lines:
Marshal Hollister: “Morning, Emmy. Is Rose ready?”
Emmy, nodding: “But I had quite a bit of difficulty getting some civilized clothes on her.”
Rose walks out in a dress.
Marshal: “You look prettier than a spotted colt.”
Rose: “You do too, marshal.”
Marshal Hollister: “Individual law is unjust.”
Rose: “The shortest way to justice is like the arrow flies.”
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