The Old West

 

 (imdb)

RAIDERS OF OLD CALIFORNIA-1957-Low budget Republic western about unscrupulous ranchers pushing Mexicans off their own land. Capt. McCain (Jim Davis) is their leader and his gang includes Ric Vallin, Lee Van Cleef and Marty Robbins! When a circuit judge (Louis Jean Heydt) and a marshal (singer Faron Young) investigate, McCain uses intimidation and violence to get his way. He also kills his ex-partner Lt. Johnson (Harry Lauter). 

McCain searches for Sebastian (Lawrence Dobkin), a Mexican who supposedly granted McCain his land and has to fight savage Indians. In a shootout of the country-western singers Young beats Robbins. Douglas Fowley is a semi-comical old sheriff. A flashback filled trial and a stampede cap the finale in which McCain is killed by his own cattle. Gerald Mohr is the narrator. 

Director Albert C. Gannaway also made DANIEL BOONE, TRAILBLAZER which also featured Faron Young.

Daniel Boone Was a Man...

DANIEL BOONE TRAIL BLAZER-1956-Low budget, color western from Republic Pictures features Bruce Bennett (who was in LOVE ME TENDER the same year) as the famous "trail blazer" trying to convince The Indians (lead by Lon Chaney as Blackfish) that the white man means no harm and just wants to live in peace with them. Trouble is started by a renegade French soldier. Many settlers get scalped.

It's rather violent and graphic for the time but beware! This film includes characters singing!!! Country Western singer Faron Young co-stars. Two directors are credited. One, Ismael Rodriguez directed THE BEAST OF HOLLOW MOUNTAIN the same year.

In fact, 1956 was a busy year for Chaney (who would co-star in the TV show LAST OF THE MOHICANS the next year). He also made THE BLACK SLEEP, MANFISH and THE INDESTRUCTIBLE MAN. Bruce Bennett, a silver medal winner in the 1928 Olympics, was once known as Herman Brix and played the lead role in the Edgar Rice Bourroughs backed THE NEW ADVENTURES OF TARZAN. He and Chaney would meet again in THE ALLIGATOR PEOPLE in '59.

Thanks for reading!