Stage to Mesa City (1947)

Very best movie i ever watch

Simply Perfect

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

Stage To Mesa City has US Marshals Lash LaRue and Al St.John on a mission to investigate some stagecoach wars and why someone is so determined to put Steve Clark's line out of business. The guys arrive just in time to greet a shot a and dying Clark out on the prairie and to rescue his kids at the hands of the outlaws who have a mysterious and unknown leader.The kids are Jennifer Holt and Brad Slaven and they have no idea who wants their line and the mail contract that could go with it. The outlaws also seem to know every move they make. So it's a bit of detective work for both Lash and Fuzzy.The leader is a clever dude and in a position to know all. I think you can figure out who it is just watching the film.The usual hard riding and gunplay with Lash LaRue using the bullwhip to disarm one villain.PRC had no money to spend and spend they didn't. A lot of stock footage that any B western fan will recognize instantly.The Lash's fans will be pleased.

I am giving this movie a 10 rating only because Lash was my first crush when we got our first television in the early 1950s. I also watched Encore Westerns yesterday, the tribute to Lash showing six of his Marshal Cheyenne Davis movies filmed in 1947. At the end of the six hours, I was going bonkers. The music drove me crazy during the chase scenes, the same music in all six movies, thank goodness for the mute button. And Fuzzy St. John's antics wore thin. I just wanted to see Lash give some lovely damsels a few smooches, but no such luck.However, what a cheap movie company this was! In almost all of the films I watched yesterday, there were the same exact scenes over and over, in each of the movies. In two of the movies, there was the same exact stagecoach chase with the same damsel in distress! Oh well, so what! I got to see my Lash in all his glory. My heart is still beating wildly. What a guy!

Lash LaRue was the most interesting B western hero to come along after WWII. Bearing a striking physical resemblance to Humphrey Bogart, he cut quite a figure in his all-black outfit while expertly wielding a bullwhip against the bad guys.STAGE TO MESA CITY is an entertaining vehicle for LaRue with almost non-stop action and an interesting mystery element. Silent era comic Fuzzy St John backs LaRue with some expert pratfalls as his actually helpful sidekick. Jennifer Holt is the attractive heroine. Marshall Reed and Terry Frost head up the bad guys, but take orders from a shadowy boss. Between wild shootouts and chase after chase, Lash tries to figure out the identity of this top villain.This film is action packed with several full gallop chases. It might actually be too action packed. The mystery is predictable as the casting leaves no doubt who the brainy boss will turn out to be. It might have been wise to sacrifice a chase here or there in order to build up the red herrings. It also would have helped to cast veteran villains in the red herring roles to keep the viewer guessing.All in all, though, a fast-paced treat for LaRue fans.

In this popular film in Lash Larue's series of low-budget 1940's westerns, the black-clad whip-slinger takes on murder and corruption in a small western town. The dated storyline is interesting, though the outcome of the mystery is somewhat predictable.Larue was never an accomplished actor, yet he does have an on screen persona in these films that makes the film entertaining for B-western fans. His deadpan delivery and feisty demeanor make him even more believable as he pursues the murderin' rascal in question. As always, Fuzzy St.John gives a humorous performance as the clown in prospector's clothing who aides Lash in "tracking" the dirty villain responsible for murder and mayhem. Elementary, my dear Lash !