An excellent "B" western on all counts: story, characterization, action, acting and especially atmosphere. True, the plot gimmick of hero joining an outlaw gang in order to bust it apart is an extremely familiar one, but "Sunrise Trail" still manages to more than hold the interest thanks to a whole raft of compelling factors including Wellyn Totman's long-on-characterization screenplay, John P. McCarthy's astutely detailed direction, Archie Stout's atmospherically dark-edged photography, plus splendid acting from almost all concerned, particularly hero Bob Steele and the lovely Blanche Mehaffey (in the best role she ever had in her entire career) as well as familiar character players like Jack Clifford and Eddie Dunn who never again received an opportunity to show audiences they were real actors, not just faces in the background.
Review of The Sunrise Trail
