Bandits of Dark Canyon
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Philip Ford
Allan "rocky" Lane
Black Jack
Bob Steele
Eddy Waller
Roy Barcroft
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
As convict Ed Archer is being transported by stagecoach to a new jail, two men shoot the coach's driver, then search unsuccessfully for Ed. After the men leave, Ed, who was hiding in the brush, robs a passenger named Farraday of his clothes and escapes. He buys a horse from a horse trader, who tells him that Placer City, Ed's hometown, has become a ghost town. Ed rides to Placer City, unaware that he is being followed by Texas Ranger "Rocky" Lane. After he is shot at by an unseen assailant, Ed falls from his horse, which then flees into the hills. Close behind, Rocky discovers empty peanut shells left by the gunman, and while he examines them, Ed steals his horse, forcing Rocky to pursue him on foot. Ed rides to his home, and there reunites with his friends, Nugget, Joan Shaw and her uncle Ben, who is secretly working with a gang of outlaws. After Ed thanks Joan for looking after his son Billy while he was in jail, she explains that she told Billy that his father was away because he is a sheriff. Ben then tells Ed that his gold vein dried up, causing Placer City to become a ghost town. Soon, Rocky arrives and demands his horse, but when Billy wakes up and sees him, Rocky allows the boy to believe that Ed is his partner. Outside Ed's house, Rocky finds a note addressed to Ed, telling him to go to Hangman's Ridge at midnight, signed "Cromwell." Once all are asleep, Rocky visits Hangman's Ridge and finds Cromwell's slain body and peanut shells nearby. The next day, Rocky is preparing to transport Ed to jail when they are attacked by two men. After Rocky shoots the men, he finds a Placer City Hotel and Casino chip on one of the bodies. Ed, who does not realize that Rocky is a Ranger, explains that seven years before, he got into an argument with Jeff Conley, the foreman of his gold mine, and the next day, Conley was found dead. Although Ed received a life sentence for the murder, he maintains his innocence. Back in Placer City, two men claiming to be sheriffs arrive, and when Ed escapes, they arrest Rocky and take him to a man in town. Rocky notices that the man is eating peanuts and flees. Meanwhile, Joan finds Rocky's Ranger badge and races to the saloon to tell Ed that Rocky is his enemy. Rocky also arrives at the saloon, just as someone knocks Ben unconscious and kidnaps Ed. Finding peanut shells, Rocky chases after the perpetrator, whom Nugget identifies as Conley, the man Ed supposedly murdered, but loses him. Rocky and Nugget then dig up Conley's grave and discover that it is empty. Ben, meanwhile, kidnaps Ed and Joan and takes them to the gold mine. Rocky and Nugget track them there and discover Ben's crew hard at work transporting gold. When Ben sees Rocky attack his henchman, he prepares to escape in a wagon with Ed, Joan and the gold in the back. Rocky follows and shoots Ben, then rescues Ed and Joan from their runaway wagon. Later, in Placer City, Rocky says goodbye to Ed, who is now a free man and married to Joan.
Director
Philip Ford
Cast
Allan "rocky" Lane
Black Jack
Bob Steele
Eddy Waller
Roy Barcroft
John Hamilton
Linda Johnson
Gregory Marshall
Francis Ford
Eddie Acuff
Leroy Mason
Jack Norman
Bud Wolfe
Crew
Frank Arrigo
Earl Crain Sr.
Mort Glickman
Gordon Kay
Lee Lukather
Howard Lydecker
Theodore Lydecker
John Macburnie
Bob Mark
John Mccarthy Jr.
George Milo
Les Orlebeck
Bob Williams
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title for this film was Marshal of Amarillo. Modern sources include Norman Willis in the cast.
