Covered Wagon Raid


60m 1950

Brief Synopsis

Under the leadership of a cutthroat named Grif (Dick Curtis), a band of outlaws has systematically been robbing and murdering settlers bound for the large Chandler ranch which has been cut up into small parcels of land for purchase. The postmaster, and operator of the Three Monkeys Saloon, Harvey Grimes (Alex Gerry) opens all mail addressed to Nugget Clark (Eddy Waller), foreman of the Chandler ranch, and is able to tell who is coming to buy land. He passes the information along to the outlaws and they bring their hauls back to him. Some of the settlers are clients of the Mohican Insurance Company, which sends their ace agent, Rocky Lane (Allan Lane) to investigate. Rocky finds a piece of a watch fob that links Brag (Pierce Lyden), one of Grif's men, to the recent killing of a settler. When Brag becomes unduly nervous, Grif shoots him and lays the blame on Rocky, posing as an itinerant cowhand. Roy Chandler (Byron Barr), heir to the Chandler ranch, is a witness and is kidnapped and held captive in a hideout. Rocky reveals his true identity to Nugget and Gail Warren (Lyn Thomas), who innocently puts his life in danger just as he is about to unravel the mail-tampering scheme.

Film Details

Also Known As
Covered Wagon Raiders
Genre
Western
Release Date
Jun 30, 1950
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Republic Pictures Corp.
Distribution Company
Republic Pictures Corp.
Country
United States

Technical Specs

Duration
60m
Sound
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
5,401ft

Synopsis

Insurance investigator Allan "Rocky" Lane is riding outside of West Bend, Colorado, when he witnesses two masked gunmen, Grif and Brag, rob and shoot a pioneer, Bob Davis, who is driving a wagon. When Rocky catches up with the runaway wagon, Davis asks him to take his young daughter Susie to Nugget Clark in West Bend, then dies, holding part of a watch band. Meanwhile, Grif and Brag ride into town and go to the Three Monkeys Saloon, where they hand over the jewelry they have stolen to proprietor Harvey Grimes, who is known as The Deacon. After paying the men, Grimes, who is also the town's postmaster, enters his office and opens a letter addressed to Nugget, foreman of the Chandler Ranch. Rocky comes into the saloon and gets directions from the bartender, then rides out to the Chandler Ranch, followed by the robbers and two of Grimes's henchmen. At the ranch, Nugget tells Rocky that the property is for sale, and that Davis had planned to buy a parcel of the land before meeting the same fate that the others who have attempted to settle on the land have met. He introduces Rocky to Gail Warren, whose family was killed while trying to reach the ranch. Rocky returns to the saloon, where he meets Roy Chandler, son of the late land owner, and notices that Brag is wearing the rest of Davis' torn watch band pinned to his lapel. When Brag tries to follow Rocky after he leaves the saloon, Grif shoots him, making it appear that Rocky is responsible. Rocky and Roy return to the ranch, and Rocky identifies himself and explains that most of the murdered settlers were insured by his company. Later, Gail tells Rocky that she saw Roy go into the saloon with a pistol, but before Rocky and Nugget can rescue him, Grif and his henchmen beat Roy up and take him to their hideout in the hills. Back at the ranch, Nugget tells Rocky that a man named Evans is planning to buy some of the Chandler land, and when he mentions that he gets the mail from Grimes, Rocky decides to investigate. The two men ride into West Bend, and while Nugget distracts Grimes in the saloon, Rocky searches his office and finds the seal that Grimes has been using to reclose the letters from the settlers after he has read them. Assuming that Evans is the robbers' next target, Rocky intercepts his wagon, and when Grif and his men show up, Rocky says he wants in on their scheme and tells Grif to bring his boss to a deserted relay station that night. Before the meeting can take place, however, Gail innocently tells Grimes that Rocky is an insurance investigator, and when Rocky shows up that night, Grif's henchman Hank hits him on the head. Rocky pretends to be knocked out, then when Grimes and Grif leave, he shoots Hank and rescues Roy from the gang's hideout. The next morning, Rocky thwarts another attempted robbery, then pursues Grif back to the saloon. While he and Grif are fighting, Grimes goes for his gun, but Rocky shoots him first. With the gang defeated, Rocky says goodbye to his friends at Chandler Ranch and moves on.

Film Details

Also Known As
Covered Wagon Raiders
Genre
Western
Release Date
Jun 30, 1950
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Republic Pictures Corp.
Distribution Company
Republic Pictures Corp.
Country
United States

Technical Specs

Duration
60m
Sound
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
5,401ft

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

This film was also reviewed under the title Covered Wagon Raiders. Modern sources add Wee Willie Keeler to the cast.