When a Man Rides Alone (DVD)

A lone gunman preys on stagecoaches carrying gold shipments from Arizona's prosperous Cottonwood Mine. The owner, Montana Slade, assumed control of the mine under suspicious circumstances - one of them being the fatal shooting of his partner. Since the gold robberies began shortly after the arrival in town of the Llano Kid, Slade comes to suspect the newcomer, a two-fisted gent who plays his cards close to the vest.

One of the best Tom Tyler westerns of the early 1930s, When a Man Rides Alone employs familiar plot devices but gives them a fresh spin. Director J. P. McGowan elicits a lively performance from Tyler, but the acting honors go to perennial heavy Al Bridge, who makes the most of a well-written villain role. McGowan's command of the material and careful attention to detail makes When a Man Rides Alone an exceptional entry in this western series.

• western