Riders of Black Mountain

There has always been something majestic and regal about Tim McCoy's presence in film, and his presence in "Riders of Black Mountain" carries this even a notch or two higher than normal, what with him always being cloaked in a long black gambler's coat and sporting a sharply-cut black hat, less grandiose than his normally-worn super-sized white one; yes, he dons this attire even when riding at breakneck speed on horseback, and he looks sharp for sure!

This picture was produced toward the end of the Colonel's leading-man days (1940) at the lower-budgeted PRC studios, and they didn't throw too many extra morsels into this one. Still, the cast come across as earnest and involved, even if the story is somewhat threadbare and could have used an extra peek by the story editor. Most of the action in this one is on horseback, with variously-sized groups of men riding here and there and everywhere all the time. I was impressed to see the stagecoach riders actually rocking back and forth during the interior on-board scenes. The outdoor scenery , of which there is plenty, is beautiful, too.

In summary, "Riders of Black Mountain" would be dull and uneventful if it were not for Tim McCoy being at the helm; however, because he is leading the way the film is indeed watchable.