Best Chatsworth Movies -- The Trusted Outlaw (1937)

The Trusted Outlaw (1937) is a superior Bob Steele oater directed by Robert N. Bradbury, starring Bob Steele, Lois January and Joan Barclay.  

Plot:

Dan Ward, the last of a well known outlaw family, returns to his hometown to marry his girl Molly, and prove he can go straight.  He meets Molly outside town, and while they are talking, Dan's name is called out by Ted Wells, a henchmen for Jim Swain -- Dan's long time enemy. 

Dan beats Wells to the draw and kills him.  Molly disappears while Dan is examining Wells's body.  Now suspicious, Dan goes into town, and delivers the corpse to sheriff Larimer.  Sheriff Larimer stops Swain from picking a fight with Dan, and later explains to Dan that while he was away, Molly fell in love with Bert Gilmore, one of Swain's gang, so they plotted to ambush him. 

Dan takes on a risky job for mine owner Pember.  Dan must get the $10,000 payroll through a narrow pass-- controlled by Swain's gang -- to Pember's mine. 

Dan out wits and out shoots Swain's henchmen, and gets through to the mine.  When he delivers the payroll, Pember's daughter Betty sneaks off to go to town, despite Dan's warnings, and is captured by Gilmore.

A jealous Molly tells Dan about the kidnapping and leads him to Gilmore's hideout.  Molly shoots Gilmore, while Dan battles Swain.  In the end the miners join in and corral the rest of the outlaw gang. 

Dan and Betty return to town.  Pember gives Dan -- who has proven he can be trusted -- a job and permission to marry his daughter.

Cast:

 

Bob Steele as Dan Ward

 

Lois January as Molly Clark

 

Joan Barclay as Betty Pember

 

Earl Dwire as Jim Swain

 

Charles King as Bert Gilmore

 

Richard Cramer as Rogan, lead hostile miner

 

Hal Price as Mr. Pember

 

Frank Ball as Sheriff Bob Larimer

 

Budd Buster as Adler, lead friendly miner

For the Iverson Movie Ranch researcher this one of the better films.  There are excellent scenes lensed on the lower ranch gorge and Indian Hills.  Rock Stars featured include Devil's Doorway, Potato Rock, Crown Rock, the Grove, Sheep Flats, and Hole in the Wall.

See a clip from the Grove ambush...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTSvfcpuYv8&feature=relmfu

See a clip at 'The Wall' (Potato and Crown Rocks) and Devil's Doorway...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS-g3MK83wo

I highly recommend this topnotch B-Western.

For more information about the Chatsworth filming locations visit http://www.cowboyup.com/ and learn about my books: Rendezvous at Boulder Pass: Hollywood's Fantasyland © 2010 (ISBN: 978-0-615-21522-8) and Reel Cowboys of the Santa Susanas © 2008 (ISBN: 978-0-615-21499-3)