It's in black and white and the drama never quite works but the setting has novelty: 1850s San Francisco, dealing with the activities of the vigilantes trying to clean up San Francisco. There was also a pro vs anti slavery background to all this in real life which is completely overlooked but I liked how the final shoot out was on a beach.
Yvonne de Carlo is the female lead, a shady lady, clearly sexually experienced, mistress to the baddy - who is allowed to turn good and get the guy. He is Joel McCrea, handsome, virile and affable as ever - after seeing de Carlo line up against some pretty weak male talent it was nice to see her teamed with someone worthy of her.
Sidney Blackmer is a good villain and I enjoyed Florence Bates as a jolly inn keeper prone to shanghaiing drunks - though this did feel as though it belonged in another movie. I really liked Richard Erdman as McCrea's sidekick - couldn't put my finger on when I remembered him so gave him a google; he was the camp leader in Stalag 17 and also played Leonard in Community.
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