Pals of the Saddle

(1938)

55 minutes

Western

Directed by George Sherman
 
Cast:

John Wayne as Stoney Brooke

Ray 'Crash' Corrigan as Tucson Smith

Max 'Alibi' Terhune as Lullaby Joslin

Louise Brooks as Beth Hoyt, also known as Beth Vincent

Anthony Marsh as Ned Hoyt, also known as Ned Vincent

Ralph Bowman as Bob Whitney

Gordon Hart as Mullins

Roy James as Frank Harmon

Olin Francis as Jake

Fern Emmett as Ma Hawkins

Henry Otho as Sheriff Mason

The Three Mesquiteers come across what they think is a damsel in distress when they see Ann thrown from her runaway horse while riding with her friend Paul and come to her rescue.  They receive her anger instead of her thanks, and she feigns a fainting spell, upon which Paul takes her back to the ranch.  During the episode Ann also dropped her purse, which the three mesquiteers discover has a small handgun within.  The Mesquiteers go to the ranch to return Ann’s purse to her.  While talking with Ann, shots ring out from upstairs, and Stoney rushes to see what is happening.  There he finds another man, Frank, who is wounded, and the dead body of Paul.  People from the ranch start to arrive and Ann quickly states that Stoney was trying to rob her, and Stoney killed Paul while Paul was trying to defend her.  Lullaby pretends to be the sheriff and places Stoney under arrest but then lets him escape.  Meanwhile wanted posters are posted for Stoney and he must lay low.  Looking for a place to hide, he comes across a cabin where Ann is tending to Frank’s wounds, to no avail as he dies shortly after Stoney arrives.  Questioning her about the whole business, Ann comes clean and tells Stoney that she is a secret U.S. agent tracking the trading in illicit materials and that Paul was a dealer she was trying to woo to bust the ring.  Stoney agrees to help, and swaps clothes with Frank who resembles Stoney.  Stoney is going to pretend to be Ezekiel Saunders who killed Stoney trying to apprehend him for the reward.  Lullaby and Tucson are startled to hear of Stoney’s “death” and go to claim his body.  Meanwhile Stoney changes identity again, this time as Paul to meet with Paul’s contact Gordon.  At the meeting Lullaby and Tucson arrive with Judge Harris and blow Stoney’s cover, allowing Gordon and his gang to escape and kidnap Stoney in the process.  Stoney, Tucson and Ann train the wagons to the border, where they team up with a division of U.S. Cavalry to stop the criminals from getting away and rescue Stoney.
 
Notes:

The Three Mesquiteers series was a series of 8 films made by Republic studios through 1938 to 1939.