Border Treasure

A deadly quake decimates an area of Mexico just beyond the Arizona border. Inez Cooper plays a prominent Mexican-American rancher who collects gold, silver, and jewels for an earthquake relief and prepares to take it to Mexico herself. Heavies led by John Doucette and House Peters Jr. Plan to hijack the treasure in Spanish Pass, but they didn't count on the guns of Holt and his sidekick Richard Martin backing up Cooper's journey.

Started out well as it had an interesting idea. An earthquake fund - treasure- will be sent to Mexico. Which means some nasty villains will try and pilfer it. It trots amiably along, however it soon meanders with nothing too remarkable happening. It's got great scenery, some good action, but pace is a bit poor and it's not too engaging like the other Holt-Chito Rafferty westerns.

This Tim Holt western has a different background than a lot of westerns as the subject is disaster relief. Inez Cooper who is a leading citizen and a wealthy one in Mexico has pledged her jewelry collection which is considerable and she's raised a lot more for the relief of her country's citizens left destitute after an earthquake. Tim Holt and Richard Martin rescue her from a robbery attempt by John Doucette and his gang of outlaws.

But House Peters, Jr. and saloon girl Jane Nigh also are interested and Peters is a ruthless con artist. They have one uneasy alliance with Doucette. Something that Tim and Chito can exploit.

Nigh is one woman Chito can't charm and Cooper is a bit out of his league.

Enough gunplay and a fast moving story for any B western fan.

Earthquake hits Azteca, Mexico. Anita Castro from a powerful family collects a fortune and leads a relief expedition. Outlaws plan to rob them at the lawless border area. Tim Holt and Chito Rafferty are nearby when they get in the middle of the action.

I don't like Chito's rough handling of Stella. He needs to be more light-handed. It's a different time. I don't know why the bandits would follow that one guy and it's bad strategy for the expedition to begin with. They probably lost their best gun. It's a lot of old time western action from gun fights to bar fights. It is what it is and that's alright by me.

Ed and Chito (Tim Holt, Richard Martin) get caught up in a plot to rob a shipment of gold, silver and diamonds on it's way to Mexico to help victims of an earthquake. After hearing unexplained gunfire while mending a fence, they ride out to investigate the source of the dust-up. In short order they are up to their bandanas in trouble as our duo attempts to thwart a heist hatched by town bad guys Bat and Rod (John Doucette, House Peters Jr.), their henchmen and devious saloon singer Stella (Jane Nigh).

This one was directed by George Archainbaud instead of the usual Lesley Selander / Tim Holt pairing. Archainbaud directed a boatload of the Hopalong Cassidy films and the flow of this movie is reminiscent of some of the early Harry 'Pop' Sherman produced Hoppys while still meshing up with the RKO style. So there is the obligatory RKO singing dance hall number. Actually two singing dance hall numbers. It was as if RKO studio executives took a solemn oath that these routines must be included in all of the Tim Holt westerns.

Border Treasure is probably a notch lower than Holt's other westerns in that same time frame. Director Lesley Selander had pretty much nailed down the Tim Holt franchise and they cranked out some of the best B-Westerns of that era. Not sure why they decided to make a one time change for this film. Nevertheless the well above average RKO production quality, Lone Pine location shots and decent amount of action make this a solid entry into the Tim Holt series.