This was my first look at Rex Bell and my first impression was that he isn't very charismatic as a Western cowboy hero. That could partly be attributed to the opening of this story in which he's introduced as a newspaper reporter for the New York Dispatch. His character is Speed Morgan, but in order to ingratiate himself into a criminal gang, he helps Flash Barrett (Lloyd Whitlock) escape from a police chase, and introduces himself as outlaw Frisco Eddie, with newspaper clippings to boot! The story moves West from New York when Barrett decides to make a call on a cowboy who's holding out on him regarding some diamonds.
Taking 'Frisco Eddie' along as a bodyguard, Flash and three other members of his gang locate Lois Miller (Frances Rich), and eventually her brother Bill, who's been keeping a stash of diamonds for himself. Bill Miller is portrayed by character actor Bud Osborne, who if you check his stats here on IMDb, you'll find he's got six hundred thirty two screen credits over a span of fifty years! He's been in countless B Westerns and other programmers like this one, but this is the closest I've ever seen him in a role where he's a principal character.
Once Rex Bell exchanges his business suit for a set of cowboy duds, he gets into the act by shooting the wheel of the outlaws' getaway car, and something I don't think I've seen before, he lassoes a driver right out from behind the steering wheel during a posse chase! It doesn't come across as very credible, but in the early days of talkie movies, I guess they would try anything. With awkward dialog and clumsy looking fight scenes, this isn't what I'd call a must see Western, but if you'd like a first look at Rex Bell in action, this is a good place to start.
Taking 'Frisco Eddie' along as a bodyguard, Flash and three other members of his gang locate Lois Miller (Frances Rich), and eventually her brother Bill, who's been keeping a stash of diamonds for himself. Bill Miller is portrayed by character actor Bud Osborne, who if you check his stats here on IMDb, you'll find he's got six hundred thirty two screen credits over a span of fifty years! He's been in countless B Westerns and other programmers like this one, but this is the closest I've ever seen him in a role where he's a principal character.
Once Rex Bell exchanges his business suit for a set of cowboy duds, he gets into the act by shooting the wheel of the outlaws' getaway car, and something I don't think I've seen before, he lassoes a driver right out from behind the steering wheel during a posse chase! It doesn't come across as very credible, but in the early days of talkie movies, I guess they would try anything. With awkward dialog and clumsy looking fight scenes, this isn't what I'd call a must see Western, but if you'd like a first look at Rex Bell in action, this is a good place to start.
