Panhandle (1948)

Excellent low-budget B-Western. John Sands (Rod Cameron) is a former outlaw turned saddle-maker who is hiding out in Mexico due to his past. He discovers that his brother has been shot, and heads to the town where it happens, which is controlled by the evil Matt Garson (Reed Hadley). There he romances Garson's secretary, rights various wrongs, has an enjoyable saloon brawl, and avenges his brother's murder.

It's all enjoyably straight-forward: we know Sands in an accomplished gunfighter and will end up winning from the assured way he disarms a Marshall near the start of the film. The only person who does not see the Sands' likely victory in Garson's optimistic and naive henchman (Blade Edwards, who is also credited with co-writing the film). Although Sands in a former outlaw, the film does not get bogged down in angst about his past – he's very much just a "man's got to do" hero, which is a refreshing change. The directness of the romance is also assuming. It mostly consists of the heroine criticising Sands, then Sands kissing her, and that's about it. The process is repeated several times.

Rod Cameron doesn't strike me as a hugely distinctive actor. Here he comes across a bit like a decent Randolph Scott impersonator, which in fairness is probably just what's required here.