Santa Fe Saddlemates (1945)
Santa Fe Saddlemates marked the directorial debut of Thomas Carr and the birth of Carr’s partnership with Sunset Carson. The Carson and Carr partnership produced a handful of excellent b-westerns for Republic Pictures, but it was cut short when Republic dropped Sunset in the midst of a scandal. Carson’s career never quite recovered from the Republic debacle. He made a few movies for Yucca Pictures, but after those films, he didn’t get any screen work for more than twenty years.
Santa Fe Saddlemates features Sunset Carson as a special agent who is sent by the Governor to a border town where a gang of smugglers are outwitting the Border Patrol. Along the way Sunset join forces with a new partner named Dead Eye (Olin Howland handles the trusty comedic sidekick chores) and Linda Stirling is on hand for some romantic interest.
This particular Sunset Carson vehicle is very heavy on the action front and loaded with excitement. It also has one of the best opening sequences from any of Republic’s westerns. It’s a scene that involves a fight between Sunset and several lawmen that have been hired by the Governor to test Carson and see if he has what it takes to succeed in his mission. A thoroughly enjoyable b-oater and well worth seeking out.
-William J. White
No comments:
Post a Comment