The Lone Rider Rides On
Cast & Crew
Samuel Newfield
George Houston
Hillary Brooke
Al St. John
Karl Hackett
Lee Powell
Film Details
Synopsis
In 1882, the Cameron family is headed to Miracle Valley, California, where they have bought some ranchland. One night, outlaws who have anticipated their arrival attack the family at their campsite. Everyone is killed except little Tom, who witnesses the attack while hiding in some bushes. By 1901, the now-grown Tom has become renowned as "The Lone Rider," a vigilante in search of his family's killers. One afternoon, Tom comes across the body of Richard Brown, who was murdered at his campsite. After he recalls the loss of his own family, Tom finds a deed made out to Brown by Frank Mitchell for a ranch in Flat Rock, and decides to investigate for himself. Outlaw Curly, meanwhile, discusses with his righthand man, his and Mitchell's plan to take over a Flat Rock ranch that is in foreclosure. After Curly learns that Brown has been killed, he plots to run Brown's sister Sue off the ranch as soon as possible. In Flat Rock, Tom goes into the general store and comes to the aid of store owner Fuzzy Jones, who is being harassed by Mitchell's men. When Tom introduces himself to Fuzzy as Brown, Fuzzy warns him that Mitchell has sold the Wagon Wheel ranch many times over a period of years, but that he is the first person ever to claim it. Tom goes out to the ranch after learning that the area used to be called Miracle Valley, and is surprised to meet Sue, who has not seen her brother since she was a little girl. Mitchell's men have already come to move Sue out, and advise Tom to meet with their boss. However, Mitchell frames Tom for Brown's murder and Tom is arrested. Fuzzy, who feels indebted to Tom, learns his true identity and promises to help. During his trial, Tom recognizes Judge Graham as the man who led the marauders against his family. After Graham finds Tom guilty and sentences him to death by hanging, Fuzzy and his friends help Tom escape. Mitchell, meanwhile, orders his men to sell the Wagon Wheel horses in Barstow so that Sue will be unable to make the final payment on the land. When Brown's deed disappears from Sue's safe, Tom searches Mitchell's office in town. Mitchell arrives unexpectedly and after a fistfight, Tom regains the deed and takes Mitchell hostage. He and Fuzzy then follow Mitchell's gang to Barstow and rob them. Tom allows one outlaw to escape and report back to Graham and Curly. Graham tries to leave the state, but Tom captures him and keeps him hostage with Mitchell and the other outlaws. After finding Fuzzy brutally beaten by Curly, Tom tracks down Curly at his hideout, but stops in mid-fight when he recognizes a birthmark on Curly's arm as the same mark his brother Jimmy bore. Curly reveals that he was severely injured and was adopted by Graham, who told him that his family was killed by Indians. When one of Mitchell's outlaws then comes gunning for Tom, Curly takes the bullet for his brother and dies. With Mitchell's gang routed, Fuzzy nominates Tom to be the town's new judge, but Tom declines the nomination and continues his lonesome wandering.
Director
Samuel Newfield
Cast
George Houston
Hillary Brooke
Al St. John
Karl Hackett
Lee Powell
Forrest Taylor
Frank Hagney
J. Wilsey
Frank Ellis
Curly Dresden
Buddy Roosevelt
Al Bridge
Isabel La Mal
Harry Harvey Jr.
Bobby Winkler
Don Forrest
Bob Kortman
Crew
Film Details
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working titles of this film were The Lone Rider Galloping to Glory and Galloping to Glory. This was the first film in the "Lone Rider" series produced by Sigmund Neufeld Productions for PRC. The series featured George Houston as a vigilante who occasionally worked for the government. Houston was replaced by Bob Livingston in the 1942 film Overland Stagecoach, but the Lone Rider's sidekick, "Fuzzy Jones," played by Al "Fuzzy" St. John, remained the same in all of the films. The series' theme song was "I'm the Lone Rider" and was played over the credits of each film. Modern sources include Wally West and Steve Clark in the cast. For further information on the series, consult the Series Index.
