The California Trail

Yankee Buck Jones turns into a south-of-the-border Robin Hood in this fine, if flawed, Western from Columbia Pictures. Arriving with a shipment of food for the starving peons of La Loma, CA, Santa Fe Stewart (Jones) finds himself falsely accused of murdering local businessman Don Marco Ramirez (Emile Chautard) and stealing his valuable cargo. The Yankee Bandit, however, manages to escape from jail and embarks on a quest to defeat local mayor Don Alberto (George Humbert) and his brother Commandante Emilio (Luis Alberni), who have been starving the populace in order to take over their valuable land. With the assistance of Juan (Charles Stevens), whose young son was killed by the Commandante, the hero does his best to feed the hungry and soon discovers a surprising ally in a rich stranger. The latter is revealed to be the governor of California, traveling to La Loma to investigate the uprising. When the dust settles, the governor appoints Juan the new mayor of La Loma and Santa Fe its new commandant. To make sure the Yankee will remain in town, the governor gives the blessing for a union with lovely Dolores Ramirez (Helen Mack).