Westward Ho

Republic release of Louis Gray production. Directed by John English. Screenplay by Mort Grant and Doris Schroeder from original story by Mort Grant. Photography Reggie Lanning; editor William Thompson; musical score Cy Feuer. Completed March 11, 1942. Running time 54 minutes.

Just how and why the Three Mesquiteers happened to ride into Spring Valley when they did reposes in the minds of the scriptors, but conveniently they did, and the regulation western meller gets under way. Picture is a regulation actioner of the wide open spaces that will satisfy the western fans and Saturday kid matinees.

There’s skullduggery afoot in Spring Valley, with Evelyn Brent, owner of the town bank, in cahoots with a bandit gang that rob the bank and stagecoaches via unsuspecting victims in order to collect the reward coin put up by the banker’s association. Shortly after the Mesquiteers ride into town Rufe Davis is the dupe of the gang, and charged with a bank holdup. Pals Bob Steele and Tom Tyler ride to the rescue in time to save Davis from being strung up, and then manipulate to join up with the desperado gang to uncover latter’s machinations. But the gang finds out about the trio’s plans and figures to leave then holding the bag in a bank robbery. Climax is a real old- fashioned shooting match along the western street, with maximum amount of gunfire and minimum amount of victims.

Steele, Tyler and Davis are okay as the three western pals, with Evelyn Brent, Donald Curtis, John James and Lois Collier most prominent in support. Direction by John English is along regulatory western tempo.