SUNSET CARSON RIDES AGAIN

Sunset Carson and Pat Starling

SUNSET CARSON RIDES AGAIN (1948). Director: Oliver Drake.

Sunset Carson, playing himself, hopes to raise money for a school in the area, and comes upon the idea of holding a boxing match. His sinister employee, Sam (John Cason), who plans to kill Sunset and take off with the proceeds, will fight a professional, but when this man is injured someone else has to take his place. A newcomer named the Kansas Kid (Al Terry) is chosen to fight Sam. Sam knows something that Sunset doesn't: the Kansas Kid is actually Bob Ward, who thinks that Sunset murdered his father. Also at stake is Sunset's wonder horse Comanche, who will go to the winner of the boxing match. 

Al Terry with Pat Starling

Sunset Carson did a series of westerns for Republic studios before he was fired for alleged malfeasances. Sunset Carson Rides Again was done by the bargain basement Yucca Pictures. Carson was 6 ft 6 and nice-looking but he lacks the charm and acting skill -- if that's the word -- of Roy Rogers. Sunset doesn't sing, but Al Terry reveals a very nice voice, as does Pat Starling playing Sunset's sister, Joan, when they do a duet of "Paradise Trail." Despite being in CineColor, there isn't much to recommended in this ultra-cheap western, although it's relatively fast-paced and has some minor action sequences. However, expert fiddler Buddy McDowell of the Rodeo Revelers can imitate birds with his strings! Carson played the same character, himself, in two more pictures and then rode into the sunset until he was resuscitated for a flick called Alien Outlaw in 1985. 

Verdict: Oddly pleasant but utterly mediocre low-budget western. **.