SYNOPSIS:
Special investigator Sunset Carson [Sunset Carson] is recruited by the governor of the territory of New Mexico, L. Bradford Prince [Frank Jaquet], to investigate a diamond smuggling ring taking place at the border. Along the way he meets city slicker Aloysius J. Phillpotts [Olin Howland] and makes him his saddlemate and partner and rechristens him “Deadeye.”
While attempting to retrieve Deadeye’s pants from a horde of ruffians in the town saloon, Sunset becomes engaged in a brawl with Spur Brannon [Bud Geary], one of the ruffians, when he attempts to sexually harass singer Ann Morton [Linda Stirling]. For his trouble, and seeing as his pants were burned, Deadeye relinquishes Brannon of his pants to the delight of Sunset, Morton and local saddlemaker John Gant [Roy Barcroft].
As it turns out Gant is at the head of the smuggling scheme and is using his business and the Slash J Ranch as a front for his dirty deeds. Carson works the ranch using the alias of Brazos Kane. However, the real Brazos [Keene Duncan] shows up and causes trouble for Carson. Morton, whom is actually a reporter, heads out to the ranch to tipoff Carson and get her story. The bandits, seeing Carson’s ruse, make for town with jewels hidden in one of the tire spokes of their carriage. A shootout ensues between Carson and the bandits until all but Gant fall to a bullet. Gant and Carson mix it up, with Deadeye providing the final blow.
REVIEW:
“Santa Fe Saddlemates” was pure slam-bang fun from start to finish. Indeed, Sunset Carson gets in three separate scuffles within the first minute of the picture and the action is exciting and the justice is swift throughout. There is not a frame wasted in the picture and is in line with the kind of quality “B” westerns being made at the mighty Republic Pictures at the time. Everyone plays their parts well and the stunt work is phenomenal. This is as classic as classic gets. There are no singing cowboys in this picture (sorry Roy and Gene) but there is plenty of action that keeps the film going at a great pace.
When Herbert Yates, head of Republic Pictures, saw the startling frame and good looks of the 6’6” Winifred Maurice Harrison (or Michael Harrison depending on your source) he knew he was a star in the making, but rechristened him with the more western appropriate name of Sunset Carson. Carson, whose previous film experience was in minor roles in such films as the all-star World War II vehicle “Stage Door Canteen” and the 1944 Michael Curtiz film “Janie,” leapt at the idea and was signed for a trial run of four pictures at Republic starring opposite funnyman Smiley Burnette, whom was Gene Autry’s right hand.
After his four pictures with Smiley, Carson became a true star, appearing in 11 more pictures at Republic with his leading lady usually being either the sexy Linda Stirling or pretty Peggy Stewart. Yates’ motto with the Carson pictures was that he wanted them filled with “Action, action and more action!” This approach is certainly evident in “Santa Fe Saddlemates” where at least five fights occur in the film’s brief 52-minute runtime.
Unfortunately, Carson’s inappropriate conduct at a gathering of the studio’s western stars led to Yates firing Carson, meaning his days as a star were over. In 1948 Carson re-emerged, older and wiser, in producer Oliver Drake’s “Sunset Carson Rides Again,” which began a series of low budget and low-quality pictures that sent Carson in to heavy decline. These pictures were marred by bad acting, poor cinematography and weak scripts.
Carson later made two more films, the sadly lost and unreleased “Marshal of Windy Hollow” in 1972 and the science fiction/western hybrid “Alien Outlaw” in 1985. He later hosted his own television program with “Sunset Carson’s Six-Gun Heroes” and died on May 1, 1990, at the age of 69.
Linda Stirling deserves special mention as she was as talented as she was beautiful and alluring. Indeed, film historian William C. Cline said of Stirling that she possessed all the characteristics necessary in a heroine; presence, beauty, wholesomeness and versatility. She never became an A-list starlet but is still revered by generations of pulp cinema fans for her appearances in not only the westerns, but also a pair of serial cliffhangers, playing the title roles in “The Tiger Woman” and “Zorro’s Black Whip” (both 1944). She later retired from acting to become a college professor, teaching English and drama at Glendale College. She died on July 20, 1997, at 75 years old.
I highly recommend “Santa Fe Saddlemates” as four-star western entertainment, brilliant action, perfect acting from Sunset and Stirling along with regular Republic Pictures villain Roy Barcroft and a film that does not contain one dull moment. A perfect western from start to finish.