Clearing the Range (1931)

In the lawless landscapes of Texas, the devious Lafe Kildare, bank cashier turned president, ascends his throne of corruption through a sinister murder. When Jim Fremont, the former president, threatens to expose Kildare’s thieving habits, he meets a grisly end. Now at the helm, Kildare rules with an iron fist, enforcing his reign over the ranchers of Comanche County with a ruthless gang of gunmen. Amidst the chaos, Curt Fremont rides into town, driven by the need to unearth the truth behind his brother's mysterious demise. To evade Kildare's suspicion, Curt adopts an unassuming disguise as a listless drifter, so inconsequential that Kildare dismisses him as a threat. His ruse, however, does little to impress the spirited Mary Lou Moran, a rancher's daughter unaccustomed to being snubbed. However, as the sun dips below the horizon, Curt shrouds himself in the persona of "El Capitan," a Mexican bandit who disrupts Kildare's illicit operations under a cloak of night. Kildare's frustration escalates, leading him to put a bounty on "El Capitan." In a daring move, Curt, as "El Capitan", captures himself, stripping Kildare of the reward money and redistributing it to those Kildare has impoverished. While Kildare and his cronies plot to seize Mary Lou's father's cattle, Curt engineers a diversion, leading the townsfolk on a wild goose chase for "El Capitan." In the ensuing chaos, he infiltrates the bank, seizing account books that solidify Kildare's guilt. Curt then ensnares Tom Vache, Kildare's accomplice in Jim's murder, extracting a confession and delivering him, and the damming evidence, to Sheriff Jim Burke. As Kildare attempts a daring escape, he is captured by Curt and handed over to the law. In the stirring tale of 'Clearing the Range,' deception and courage intertwine, as the strains of "La Paloma" resonate through the air, a poignant reminder of the "Zorro"-esque theme that underscores this gripping narrative.

Clearing the Range is an action movie featuring Hoot Gibson and directed by Otto Brower.

Clearing the Range is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on The Film Detective, The Roku Channel and Tubi TV and it's also available on Amazon Prime Video, Fandor Amazon Channel, MGM Plus Amazon Channel, Pure Flix and fuboTV.