The Mysterious Rider

Ben Wade decides to return to his father's old ranch 20 years after he was framed for a murder and his foreman (who framed him) took over the ranch. In those 20 years, Wade had become the Pecos Kid, highway bandit, who's also had Frosty Kilburn tag along. No one recognizing him, Wade is given the job of tending the hounds by William Bellounds (who framed him). Rustling has been a problem at the ranch, but Bellounds does little about it since a) its not legally his ranch and b) evidence might point to his son Jack, a former convict, who has connections with the head of the rustling gang cap Folsolm. Wade dons his Pecos Bill disguise riding teaming with ranch foreman Wils Moore, who seems to be in trouble at the ranch cause of his love for Collie, the actual ranch owner and Wade's daughter (she's unaware of both facts) and later when accused of leading the rustling gang with Pecos Bill. Wade learns more about the rustlers' actions and, with Frosty, have a showdown at their headquarters in the desert. Excellent B western, even though this may be considered a B+. Unlikely casting here works, considering Dumbrille and Toler may be the oddest of western pairings but both give great performances. The film is more plot and character driven rather than the emphasis on action and Selander's direction really makes that decision succeed. The Saguaro Forest in Arizona made for some of the most beautiful scenery I've seen in any western, most notably in the film's shootout climax. Rating, 10.