Bad Man from Red Butte (1940)

In a time before the formation of MCA/Universal, the Universal series culminated with its sixth and final installment - Bad Man from Red Butte. This vintage Western classic brings together the trio of Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy Knight, and Bob Baker for one last thrilling showdown. Having previously starred in 12 Universal westerns, Bob Baker took on a secondary role in this series, marking a turning point in his career before his subsequent appearance in Abbott and Costello's 1942 "Ride 'Em Cowboy". As the curtain fell on this series, Johnny Mack Brown and Fuzzy Knight were just warming up for their long-run partnership in Monogram. In the dusty frontier town of Cripple Creek, law and order are but distant memories, as the outlaw boss Hal Benson, renegade killer Gils Brady, and the crooked justice of the peace, Hiram T. Cochran, hold sway. With a mortgage hanging over the Bax-X ranch owned by Dan Toddhunter, desperation looms large. Into this lawless landscape ride Buck Halliday, lawyer Gabe Hornsby, and Spuds Jenkins. The town folk are thrown into confusion as Buck bears an uncanny resemblance to the notorious Gils Brady. The truth is unveiled by Miss Woods, an ex-school teacher, who reveals that Buck and Brady are in fact twin brothers. Buck, stepping into the role of the unlikely hero, arranges a loan to help Toddhunter clear his mortgage, drawing the ire of Benson who sends his henchmen to intercept the money. Amidst the chaos, Brady is fatally shot, and Buck is wrongfully accused of his brother's murder. The situation spirals out of control as Buck is nearly lynched by a mob led by Benson and Cochran. In a daring turn of events, Gabe Hornsby challenges Cochran in an election and emerges victorious, driving the crooked justice of the peace out of town. Meanwhile, Buck takes it upon himself to bring Benson and his gang to justice. Amidst the dust and danger, a glimmer of romance blossoms as Buck and Tibby find themselves drawn to each other. Bad Man from Red Butte is a whirlwind of suspense, action, and unexpected alliances, packed with classic Western drama and a dash of romance. It's a thrilling ride that keeps you on the edge till the last scene.

Bad Man from Red Butte is a western movie featuring Johnny Mack Brown and directed by Ray Taylor.

Bad Man from Red Butte is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Cineverse and Tubi TV.

It is also possible to buy Bad Man from Red Butte on Amazon Video.