In the first half of the 20th century, a popular myths promoted in many films is that of the oppressed south during Reconstruction. In this myth, the poor Southerners are tormented and taken advantage of by evil 'carpetbaggers' from the North who want to exploit the defeated South. And, in this version of history, the blacks who live in this post-war South seem to LIKE the South and there's no mistreatment of them and slavery is never even mentioned in any way. In other words, if these Yankees just left the Southerners alone, life would be wonderful. Now if all of this sounds like hooey, then your instincts are right....this is a lie promoted in many films. So, before you see "Robin Hood of the Pecos" understand that it strongly promotes this mythical Reconstruction period and historically speaking, it's pure fiction.
When the story begins, the evil Yankee, Ballard (Cy Kendall) is in Texas and pretty much running things. In response to this thief, there is a Robin Hood sort of character who works in disguise in order to right wrongs....and steal back the money Ballard and his lackeys stole from the oppressed Southern folk.
Although the doings of the vigilantes are not done under the auspices of the KKK, in many ways Roy and his fellow Night Riders take the law into their own hand in order to preserve order and right wrongs. This is EXACTLY how many in the Klan represented their actions at that time in history! And the 'Night Riders' is also a term often used by the KKK!!! So this makes this Rogers film one which actually, in a round about way, is pro Klan!
I will admit that "Robin Hood of the Peco" is very entertaining, it's a crappy history lesson and is a racist (or at least quite revisionist) version of history. Worth seeing if you understand that the movie is highly flawed.
By the way, this film is posted on YouTube but like many B-westerns, it was trimmed for television time slots. It should run 59 minutes but runs 53--the standard length for a movie in a one-hour time slot back in the 1950s. I have no idea if the full original version exists any more.
