The Return of the Durango Kid (1945)
The Return of the Durango Kid (1945)
„The Return of the Durango Kid“ is a 1945 western film directed by Derwin Abrahams from a screenplay by J. Benton Cheney.
1875. Outlaws hold up the stage bound for Silver City, Texas, discover the payroll is missing, and demand the passengers’ jewelry and money instead. Bill Bladen protests the seizure of his watch, while Paradise Flo, a saucy saloon singer, directs them to her handbag under the seat, where they find the payroll.
Later, in town, Leland „Lee“ Kirby, the lawless proprietor of the Crystal Palace saloon, praises Paradise for pointing his men to the payroll. At the stage depot, Bill learns from Buckskin Liz, the hardy old woman who owns the line, that Kirby runs the town and was probably the man behind the theft of his watch. Bill proceeds to the saloon, where one of Kirby’s men taunts him with the watch that belonged to his father. Bill demands its return, the man refuses, Bill shoots out the lights, reclaims his watch, and leaves.
At the stage depot, Bill tells Buckskin that he came to Silver City to exonerate his late father, framed by outlaws. Buckskin offers Bill a job driving the stage with her employees, Jim and Curly.
Later, Kirby divides the stolen payroll in his office. A masked fighter for law and order known as „The Durango Kid“ emerges from the shadows and takes the money. The next day, Tom Wagner, a real estate investor, offers to buy Buckskin’s stage line.
The outlaws attack the stage again. After the outlaws ride away, Curly and Jim deliver the real strongbox, which was hidden under the seat, while Bill decoys the bandits. When the thieves pry open the stolen box, it explodes.
To thwart Bill and Buckskin, Kirby orders Wagner to hire Tom Richards and Luke Blane. When Kirby’s men attack a gold shipment, Jim and Bill chase them away, then discover that Tom and Luke have driven away with the gold. That night, Bill and Jim overpower Tom and Luke, knock out two of Kirby’s men, and deliver the gold, along with Luke and Tom, to the sheriff.
In Silver City, Kirby orders Wagner to return the gold. Wagner panics and hurries to his office, where he is confronted by Bill. After Bill tricks Wagner into providing the evidence to clear his father and implicate Kirby in the robberies, Kirby bursts into the office, grabs Bill’s gun and shoots Wagner. When Bill is arrested for murder, Paradise, overcome with guilt for her association with Kirby, visits Bill at his cell and passes a gun to him through the bars. After she leaves, Bill hands the gun over to the sheriff, winning the lawman’s confidence. In return, the sheriff grants Bill twenty-four hours to prove Kirby’s guilt.
Riding as The Durango Kid, Bill terrorizes Kirby’s gunmen, warning that justice will be served at eight o’clock that night. As the hour approaches, Ringo bursts into Kirby’s office and is shot by the jittery Kirby. The sheriff listens from a back room. Ringo, believing that he has been betrayed, denounces Kirby for Wagner’s murder. The Durango Kid then arrests Kirby. Kirby turns on him with a hidden gun. Bill kills him. With justice served, Paradise, penitent, leaves town, and Bill rides off to bring law and order to the territory.
Cast:
- Charles Starrett – Bill Blayden/The Durango Kid
- Tex Harding – Jim
- Jean Stevens – Paradise
- John Calvert – Lee Kirby
- The Jesters – Musicians
„The Return of the Durango Kid“ ist ein Westernfilm aus dem Jahr 1945 unter der Regie von Derwin Abrahams nach einem Drehbuch von J. Benton Cheney.
1875. Gesetzlose überfallen die Kutsche nach Silver City, Texas, stellen fest, dass die Lohngelder fehlen, und verlangen stattdessen den Schmuck und das Geld der Passagiere. Bill Bladen protestiert gegen die Beschlagnahmung seiner Uhr, während Paradise Flo, eine kesse Saloonsängerin, sie zu ihrer Handtasche unter dem Sitz führt, wo sie die Lohngelder finden.