A Demon for Trouble

Fast-moving Steele oater. I'd like to have a nickel for every time Bob bounces off a horse here-- I'd be rich. He's energetic as heck in this otherwise routine horse opera. For example, catch how he puts a little extra oomph into his actions, as though he has oomph to spare. At the same time, the oft-used Alabama Hills make an eye-catching backdrop, though why they call the jutting rock spires "hills" is still a mystery to me. The plot's the usual- a ranch-stealing land grabber. Trouble is Bob gets blamed for a murder the grabber masterminds, so our fugitive cowboy gets help from charming Mexican rogue (Alvarado). Meanwhile, sweet blonde ingénue, Shea, gets to mostly stand around looking sweet, while Mexican siren Laroux adds personality. Nothing special here, but director Hill does keep things moving, so there's no visual sag. And watch out for when Steele almost leaps face-first through the screen, a most unusual touch for a programmer. All in all, the diminutive Steele shows throughout the hour why big is not necessarily better.