The RKO O'Briens were the gold standard of B westerns in this period, with solid stories and acting, fine stunt work and cinematography by Harry Wild -- the opening sequence in which O'Brien stops a stagecoach robbery by leaping onto a horse's back -- the stuntman, actually --is a real corker, shot by a camera traveling in front of the coach. Unlike other B western cameramen, Wild never hesitated to move his camera, particularly in the outdoor shots.
This one is the film premiere of future Ford stock company member and Academy Award winner Ben Johnson, who is a member of the stunt team. That might be him doing the leap onto the horse's back.
This one is the film premiere of future Ford stock company member and Academy Award winner Ben Johnson, who is a member of the stunt team. That might be him doing the leap onto the horse's back.