In the late 1930s and into the 40s, various studios started pairing various second-tier cowboy stars with one or more second-tier stars. In other words, to keep up with the BIG cowboy stars like Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, studios such as Monogram, Republic and Universal found that pairs of stars were also very lucrative. Trios such as the Range Busters and Three Mesquiteers were very popular as were duos. The duos paired the likes of Hoot Gibson with Tex Ritter, Tim McCoy with Buck Jones and here in "Raiders of San Joaquin" Johnny Mack Brown is paired with Tex Ritter.
Now I should point out that that I've never been a Tex Ritter fan, though here he is better as the secondary star...and providing a few tunes as you'd expect with Ritter.
When the story begins, Gil (Ritter) is being chased by a trio....shooting away from their horses. Rocky and Eustace (Brown and Fuzzy Knight) give chase and try to prevent this stranger from being killed. Soon after, Rocky and Eustace learn that Gil and other ranchers are being harassed by agents who say they are working for the railroad...and they're trying to force everyone to sell. What's next? Well, justice...delivered Johnny Mack Brown style.
There's nothing outstanding or amazing by this B-western...but it is fun and the Brown-Ritter duo work quite well. Worth seeing even though the plot is somewhat familiar.
