After trying out many different character names such as Dave Saunders, Dave Collins, Kansas Jones, Dave/Tim/Ross Taylor (just to name a few), Tim Holt began using his own name (on and off) for the series of Westerns he did with Richard Martin. By the way, Holt's birth name was Charles. Martin wisely stuck with the same character name of Chito Rafferty as Holt's Irish-Mexican sidekick and a sometimes comic relief.
The identity crisis aside, these westerns were usually short in length (this one is 59 min) and fairly entertaining. "Desert Passage" happened to be one of the best in the series supported by a competent cast of actors. Veteran screenwriter Norman Houston provided a neat script loaded with double-cross, intrigue and comedy. Holt is good in his role but he seems to have packed on a few pounds. Pay attention to Martin who has been blessed by the script with some real cracker lines.
The story tells of Holt and Rafferty being owner/operator of their "Lavic Stage Lines." They are on the end of their bankroll and are preparing to sell their business to the next "nitwit" who's willing to buy it.
The two men discovered that a few people in town are looking for a youngish man with greying temples. They then stumble onto the very person who was being attacked at gunpoint. After saving the man's life, our two heroes were offered $1000 for his protection and a ride on their stage coach to a safer destination south of Lavic.
The movie "Pulp Fiction" has a memorable line of "I'll be out within three shakes of a lamb's tail" which I never knew was an old saying. In "Desert Passage," Chito said "That will only take two shakes of a pig's tail!"
My main criticism with some of the series (or any other Westerns for that matter) is with the shooting action. Nobody seem to be able to aim accurately when a subject is exposed in the open unless necessary for the script. This is not as apparent in this movie.
Good fun B-Western. 7/10. Another one in the series I would recommend is "Storm Over Wyoming."
