A rather ordinary western story, except for the gimmick of a trio of outlaws dressing up like the Trio of Billy the Kid(Buster Crabbe), Fuzzy(Al St. John), and Jeff Walker(Bud McTaggart). Billy and Fuzzy are constants in the Billy the Kid PRC series. Sometimes, as here, a 3rd buddy is included, so that they more resemble such cowboy trios as Republic's Mesquiteers, and the partners Hopalong Cassidy, Lucky and Windy. Striking blond Anne Jeffries, in her first Hollywood role, at age 19, is the leading(only) lady. She would go on to have a long Hollywood and TV career, and died less than a year ago! She didn't have a lot to do here, mostly becoming convinced that the real Trio weren't committing the crimes they were blamed for...Glenn Strange plays Jim Stanton: the stereotypical-looking gang boss, with small moustache, dark looks, wearing a black hat and outfit. He looked much like I. Stanford Jolley, who sometimes played this role in this series........ Naturally, there is much confusion between who the people are dealing with, , and who is committing crimes. The fakes are part of Stanton's gang, which virtually rules Mesa City, having Sheriff Barton and Judge Clark on their pay. Things start off crazy, as the real Trio are in jail on a murder charge. The fake Trio is outside their cell window throwing them the key to their cell and some guns, and assuring them that their horses are nearby. (They created a shooting diversion in front of the jail to lure the sheriff outside)(How did they manage to get the key??). Stanton had ordered them to do this, because if the real Trio was known to be in jail or executed, they couldn't be blamed for crimes committed by their lookalikes!.......Sometimes things get confusing which sheriff we are dealing with. Sheriff Masters(honest) is sheriff of the county where we begin, but sometimes goes over to Mesa City, out of his jurisdiction, to deal with the real Trio. In one case, he was supposedly taking them back to his county jail, but as soon as he got over the county line, he released them. Sheriff Barton of Mesa City is in with Stanton's gang. There are some legal irregularities committed by the real Trio, when they arrest members of the gang, and put them in jail.......There are enough brawls, horse chases, shootings and stagecoach chases to satisfy most any western fan. It has a surprise humerous ending, which you can see at YouTube(along with the rest of the film.)
Review of Billy the Kid Trapped
