The Bandit Trail
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Edward Killy
Tim Holt
Ray Whitley
Janet Waldo
Lee "lasses" White
Morris Ankrum
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
When Sheriff Saunders of Cedar Fork comes to foreclose the mortgage on the Lazy H ranch, quick-tempered rancher Red Haggerty defends his land at gunpoint. Hearing the gunshots, Red's brother Tom rides into the mêlée to stop the firing, but is hit by a stray bullet and killed. The next day, Tom's son Steve returns home after an unsuccessful attempt at securing a loan. Red tells Steve that his father has been murdered by the sheriff's posse and proposes they retaliate by robbing the banker in charge of the foreclosure. Intimidated by his uncle, Steve consents and joins ranch hands Smokey and Whopper in a raid on the town bank. After escaping with the money, the four meet Idaho, a prison acquaintance of Red's, who suggests they rob the bank in the town of Remington. The gang sends Steve to assay the bank and, while posing as a potential investor, he meets banker Andrew Grant and his daughter Ellen, who invite him to a party at their house that night. At the party, Steve learns that the mine payroll has just been deposited in the bank and passes the information along to Red and Idaho. Before Steve and his friends can rob the bank, however, another gang of outlaws rides off with the payroll, and Steve and the boys follow them in hot pursuit. Just as they corner the outlaws in an old shack, the town marshal and his posse arrive, and Red, Idaho and Smokey ride for their hideout. Steve and Whopper join forces with the law, and in a blazing shootout with the robbers, Steve is wounded and the marshal killed. After Steve recuperates, the mayor appoints him marshal and Whopper his deputy. Joel Nesbitt, the crooked owner of the Golden Horseshoe Saloon, tries to bribe the new marshal, but when Steve insists upon arresting two of Nesbitt's men for murder, Whopper realizes that his friend has returned to the side of the law. Deciding that he must return the stolen money, Steve puts Whopper in charge while he is in Cedar Fork. As Steve is riding out of town, Red confronts him about the money, and Nesbitt, witnessing the altercation, offers Red a job. In Cedar Fork, Sheriff Saunders accepts the money and assures Steve that he will receive a lenient sentence. Promising to return after he restores law and order to Remington, Steve rides back to town, where he learns that Whopper has been shot by one of Nesbitt's men. As Nesbitt's gang lie in wait to ambush Steve, Red warns his nephew, and the two Haggerty men march to face Nesbitt, guns blazing. In the ensuing shootout, Red is mortally wounded, but before dying, kills Nesbitt. With the threat of Nesbitt eliminated, Steve, Whopper and Smokey ride to Cedar Fork to stand trial, and before leaving, Steve promises Ellen that he will return.
Director
Edward Killy
Cast
Tim Holt
Ray Whitley
Janet Waldo
Lee "lasses" White
Morris Ankrum
Roy Barcroft
J. Merrill Holmes
Eddie Waller
Glenn Strange
Frank Ellis
Joseph Eggenton
Guy Usher
Jack Clifford
Bud Osborne
Carl Stockdale
Curley Wright
Terry Frost
Art Dupuis
Bob Burns
James Farley
Al Ferguson
Bert Lebaron
Bud Geary
Heenan Elliott
John Merton
Mike Pat Donovan
Crew
Nan Blake
James Casey
Bert Gilroy
John C. Grubb
Arthur T. Horman
Walter E. Keller
Frederic Knudtson
Norton S. Parker
Van Nest Polglase
Fred Rose
Paul Sawtell
Ray Whitley
Harry Wild
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title of this film was The Outlaw Trail. According to a news item in Hollywood Reporter, Broadway character actress Helen Holmes was to appear, but her appearance in the final film has not been confirmed. Modern sources add Lew Meehan to the cast.
