Melody of the Plains

During a midnight raid on his herd, cattleman Steve Condon attempts to drive off the rustlers, only to find that one of his own punchers, young Bud Langley, has been killed in the fracas. Believing himself responsible for the lad's death, Steve visits the Langley ranch and takes a job there to help Bud's beleaguered father - but can't bring himself to break the bad news to Dad Langley or his daughter Molly. The truth comes out at the worst possible time, and Condon finds himself on the outs with the Langley family just as the same gang of rustlers arrives to prey on the ranchers.

Fred Scott's third starring western is one of his very best, thanks to a strong story written by cowboy veteran Bennett Cohen, capable direction by Sam Newfield, and earnest performances from the entire cast. Scott took his western chores quite seriously and learned how to ride, fight and shoot convincingly. His opera-trained voice might have seemed odd to moviegoers more accustomed to Gene Autry's prairie twang, but such catchy tunes as this film's "Ridin' Down the Trail to Albuquerque" (which became Scott's theme song and was heard in more than a few of his subsequent starring Westerns) succeeded in casting their spell on young Saturday-matinee devotees. - Ed Hulse

• western