Streets of Laredo Reviews

Paramount put its rising young star of the late 1940s, William Holden, into this standard western vehicle just as they had put their rising young star of the 1930s, Fred MacMurray, into the same story in 1936 in TEXAS RANGERS. The film concerns three men, Holden, Bendix, and Carey, on the wrong side of the law. One day the three happen upon pretty young Freeman just as she is being harassed by unsavory tax collector Bedoya and rescue her. A couple of years later she has grown up enough for Holden and Carey to take a romantic interest in her, but she only has eyes for the mustachioed Carey. The men become separated during a fight, and Bendix and Holden join a band of Texas Rangers on the trail of Carey. The two men plan to use this convenient cover to find their partner and rejoin him. As they ride, though, they experience changes of heart and go straight, becoming real Rangers. Holden is assigned to bring in Carey, but he refuses out of loyalty to his old comrade. He is locked up while Bendix takes on the job. Bendix joins Carey's new gang, but his old cohort uncovers his mission and kills him. Bendix's death is the impetus Holden needs to turn against his old friend, and he takes up the chase. Carey, meanwhile, has suffered a bullet wound and is being cared for by Freeman. Holden catches up to the outlaw and the two men have a gunfight. Carey is by far the better gunman and is about to kill Holden when Freeman finally sees the dark side of her Lothario and shoots him dead. Holden was only three films away from SUNSET BOULEVARD and the beginning of his reign as a major star, but he didn't know that and was becoming restless in vehicles like this routine--if A-level--oater. His contract for the film included a clause that stated that the actor would not work after 6 p.m. The finished film suffers from some confusing cutting, but the performances of the leads and the nice color photography make it worthwhile entertainment.