King of the Arena

...and maybe that's not so unbelievable when you realize this was made at Universal as their foray into the horror genre was in full swing and you remember that Universal got its start as a producer of westerns with an occasional prestige picture. Maynard had been at Universal in the early sound years, had been fired when Universal decided to go full bore into horror, and then he was rehired when Universal decided that B westerns were still something with which they should be involved once sound technology advanced.

The story is that a bunch of robberies seem to be following one particular circus/rodeo as it goes from town to town. But following those robberies are a series of particularly gruesome murders - the victim dies by having their blood congealed, thus "blackening" their appearance. Yikes! As a result this is called the "black death".

Maynard plays a Texas Ranger, Ken Kenton, who is enlisted to help solve the crimes. He signs on as an attraction at the rodeo, thus giving Maynard a chance to show off his fancy riding along with his horse, Tarzan. There is a group of Russians that seem resentful that Ken has pushed them out of the headline spot in the rodeo, and they are acting suspiciously. Complications ensue.

This is an adequate B western, although sound technology is not really at the point yet where there can be adequate close-ups of Maynard's trick riding and roping. The horror/mad scientist angle does make it unique among westerns and therefore worth a look.