This film essentially begins with an influential Cattle Association having to reimburse a local rancher because some cattle was rustled from his herd. It is then disclosed that there have been a number of similar thefts which have placed such a drain of the cattle association's finances that it can no longer afford to maintain the town's orphanage--for which it was primarily responsible. To that effect, the director of the association "Mr. Hackett" (Hooper Atchley) decides to suspend funding the orphanage, thus leaving it without any means of support. Needless to say, this angers the supervisor of the orphanage "Doris Moore" (Christine Maple) who recognizes that, rather than going to good homes, these children will essentially be sold to the highest bidder for child labor. Not only that, but unknown to her, Hackett is also the person orchestrating these cattle rustlings and his only interest is in enriching himself. What he doesn't count on, however, is the group known as "the Three Mesquiteers" riding into town and personally taking charge of the situation. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this particular film is one of the weakest additions in the series primarily due to the amount of time and attention that was spent on a children's talent show over everything else. It was almost as if the directors (Sam Newfield and Mack V. Wright) didn't realize that this was a Western they were supposed to be making rather than something along the lines of a Shirley Temple movie instead. But that's just my opinion. Be that as it may, while I certainly don't consider this to be a bad film necessarily, I don't believe it is on par with any of its predecessors, and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly below average.
