Corpus Christi Bandits on AllMovie

An interesting idea falls somewhat flat in this average Allan Lane Western, in which the young sister (Twinkle Watts) of a returning World War II veteran learns about the experiences of their grandfather just after the Civil War. Having served with Texas Cavalry, Jim Christie (Allan Lane) returns home to Corpus Christi only to be falsely accused of murdering a local commissioner. Escaping, our hero teams up with three desperadoes, Rocky (Tom London), Spade (Kenne Duncan), and Steve (Bob Wilke), and together they rob a stagecoach. But Jim takes umbrage to Spade's harassment of a female passenger and vows to go straight. That, however, is easier said than done and Jim's past is revealed by nasty saloon owner Wade Larkin (Roy Barcroft), whose reign of terror Jim has attempted to prevent. After beating Larkin at his own game, Jim is all set to give himself up to Marshal Dan Adams (Ed Cassidy) when the loyal Steve takes a shot at the lawman. The quick-thinking Jim takes the bullet instead and his heroism is awarded with a full pardon. After learning the story of Corpus Christi Jim, the modern day Captain James Christie (also Allan Lane) is made an honorary Captain of the Texas Rangers by the Governor of the State of Texas. Corpus Christi Bandits was the second to last entry in Allan Lane's initial Western series for Republic Pictures.