La frusta nera

The plot of OUTLAW COUNTRY has similarities to that of SANTE FE SADDLEMATES,made by Republic four years earlier starring Sunset Carson.Both men are law officers who are assigned to infiltrate the outlaw gang but first have to prove their worthiness by beating three of the governor's best men. In this respect, Sunset does a much better job than Lash in tromping the competition. Lash is looking for counterfeiters and Sunset is looking for diamond smugglers. Both join the respective gangs: Sunset taking the alias of a known outlaw who finally shows up to challenge his title. Lash meets his outlaw twin brother, the Frontier Phantom (who uses a shotgun and wears an ammunition vest. Lash convinces his brother to switch sides and help him. Lash and his brother change clothes to deceive the outlaws and in the final gun battle, the Frontier Phantom redeems himself and is allowed to go free. Footage from OUTLAW COUNTRY was later used to make a new film, THE FRONTIER PHANTOM (1952). The dual role character also appeared in the LASH LARUE Fawcett comic books. While producer Ron Ormond was known for his extensive use of stock footage in the LaRue westerns, this was perhaps the first time he had ever borrowed so liberally from the plot of another studio's western.

Lash has a way of shooting from the hip. No aiming at the villains, just firing away at hip level. Amazing! His buddy " Fuzzy " is just great as the side kick - a character actor who really understood how to play second fiddle and yet be remembered as a character. Lots of fist fights and hard riding - light weight stuff but thoroughly enjoyable. Still have to chuckle at the shooting from the hip style - surprisingly accurate. He also has a pretty sharp horse - not as good as Tom Mix's " Tony " but good for standing on it's hind legs and riding hard. I remember Lash from the 1950's on TV but I'm not sure if it was from a TV series or old movie reruns. It was just fun to watch a couple of his old films again. Lash, by the way, is pressed pretty hard by Fuzzy - who is one of those thoroughly remember-able characters. It's like our current sitcoms - fun to watch - but not a good idea to attach current social values to - times and social values have changed. Hang loose and enjoy.

This Lash LaRue western finds him and his trusty deputy Al St.John on a particularly dangerous assignment, going into a stretch of country where there's no law and order and the outlaws run things. In order to get the assignment LaRue and St.John have to have some kind of gauntlet initiation where they have to get past some tough deputies. Kind of stupid if you ask me.

Of more concern is the fact that Lash's outlaw brother is operating in this area and he's known as the Frontier Phantom. There's also a fifth columnist in the forces of law and order giving good intelligence to the outlaw leaders.

This western is really on the cheap. But Lash LaRue fans who like to see him whip up the bullwhip will like it.