Outcasts of Black Mesa (1950)

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Director:

Ray Nazarro

Writers:

Elmer Clifton (story)
Barry Shipman (writer)

Release Date:

13 April 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

STARRETT NEVER HOTTER! SMILEY NEVER FUNNIER! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Durango Kid

Cast

Charles Starrett	...	Steve Norman / Durango Kid
Smiley Burnette	...	Smiley
Martha Hyer	...	Ruth Dorn
Richard Bailey	...	Andrew Vaning
Stanley Andrews	...	Sheriff Grasset
William Haade	...	Dayton
Lane Chandler	...	Ted Thorp
William Gould	...	Walt Dorn
Robert J. Wilke	...	Henchman Curt (as Bob Wilke)
Chuck Roberson	...	Henchman Kramer (as Charles 'Chuck' Roberson)
Ozie Waters	...	Himself

Also Known As:

The Clue (UK)

Runtime:

54 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Soundtrack:

Just Sittin' Around In Jail

Durango & Smiley save the day, once again........

Charles Starrett appeared in dozens of western films in the heyday of the B-western.As the masked man in black, he fought greed and injustice on the plains, with the help of the always comical musician Smiley Burnette (sidekick to the great & near-great).

In this film of the series, Durango again takes on the greedy villains , in a script that while juvenile, still provides excitement, comedy & music in appropriate doses. Smiley was probably the best of all the cowboy sidekicks and he demonstrates that again here. His comedy here compares favorably with the 3 Stooges and Martin & Lewis.

This film was intended as a matinée B-feature aimed at kids .... in that context it is pretty darn good. Watch it as a warm-up to a more adult-themed western and you will have a great entertainment experience. Happy Trails !