Hell-Fire Austin

This B-movie stars Ken Maynard and Nat Pendleton. This is an odd pairing, as Maynard plays a cowboy and Pendleton an Eastern mug. The two meet in the army and when they are discharged. Maynard tells Pendleton all about how great it is in Texas as well as how well-known and beloved he is and convinces him to come with him. However, when they arrive, there is no big reception and it turns out Maynard is full of hot air. In fact, they soon end up getting arrested and put on a work crew. But when nearby rancher sees how great he is with horses and gets the pair paroled to her. The plan is to have Maynard ride her prize horse in an upcoming race. And, if it wins, she'll collect a big prize--which they need, of course, to pay off the mortgage. What she doesn't know, however, is that one of her most trusted friends is actually working hard to guarantee she'll fail.

While the film is predictable, it's still a very good B-movie. Much of it is due to Maynard's nice screen presence, his amazing trick riding and a likable sidekick (Pendleton). Good enough that I'd like to see more Ken Maynard films--even if this print was very choppy.

By the way, if you get a chance, read Maynard's IMDb biography. Rarely have I ever seen one so incredibly negative! It even says that 'Maynard was widely considered to be an arrogant jackass'! Wow...that's harsh! Also check out Pendleton's. While Pendleton's is very scant, he was a Columbia University grad, Olympic silver medal wrestler and professional wrestler before going to Hollywood.