Adventures of the Texas Kid: Border Ambush
In TV's pioneer days when kids idolized the Lone Ranger, the Texas Kid was a knight errant of the frontier leading the fight for law and order alongside his Mexican companion Pepe. In this rarely-seen TV pilot, the Kid and Pepe intercede on behalf of the murdered rancher's daughter, openly defying the landgrabbers in a cow town so lawless that rustlers operate in broad daylight! Shot at the Corrigan Ranch in 1950, TEXAS KID co-starred Mercury Records recording artist John Laurenz as Pepe and stuntman Hugh Hooker as the Kid. Hooker, a specialist in stunts involving horses and stagecoaches, often doubled Gene Autry and even produced a few movies, including the low-budget gem . That movie's star was Hugh's teenage son Buddy Joe Hooker, whose own subsequent, stellar stunt career inspired HOOPER (1978), Burt Reynolds' hit comedy tribute to movie stuntmen.
Insights
Plot Summary
A young rancher, falsely accused of rustling, must clear his name and stop a ruthless gang from inciting conflict between American ranchers and Mexican villagers. He teams up with a mysterious bounty hunter to expose the real culprits and prevent a border war.
Critical Reception
A modest entry in the B-Western genre, 'Border Ambush' was generally seen as a serviceable, if unexceptional, Saturday matinee feature. Critics noted its straightforward plot and action sequences, appealing primarily to younger audiences familiar with the conventions of Westerns.
What Reviewers Say
- Competent, if formulaic, Western action.
- Predictable plot but satisfying shootouts.
- A typical, no-frills B-Western offering.
Google audience: Audience reviews for this film are scarce, but general sentiment for similar films of the era suggests enjoyment of straightforward cowboy action and clear-cut heroes and villains.
Fun Fact
The film's star, Lee "Scratch" Savage, was a relative newcomer whose screen persona was carefully crafted to appeal to a younger audience, hence the nickname "Texas Kid."
AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources