Riding the California Trail (1947)

Truly the worst movie I've ever seen in a theater

Better Late Then Never

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

If you are looking for an exciting action-adventure film, then you might want to keep looking. That's because this film is probably the least action-packed one you can find. Through so much of the film, Cisco (Gilbert Roland) either is making eyes at women or very, very slowly and leisurely evading the law. It's actually funny to see the posse chasing him and he actually stops to chat up a pretty señorita! The plot involves Cisco romancing and discovering that a rich young lady has a jerky uncle who is planning on stealing her inheritance.Some deficits of this film are many people (especially the ladies) who don't sound the least bit Mexican (though they play Mexican characters), a slow and uneventful plot and a total lack of energy. On the plus side, the film is pleasant enough...and Cisco's sidekick is quite funny (especially during the sword fighting scene). Watchable but not at all distinguished.

"Riding the California Trail" was one of six Cisco Kid films made by Monogram starring Gilbert Roland for the 1946/47 season. It's one of the weakest of the series with a minimum of action.The story involves a scheme by local rancher Don Jose Ramirez (Martin Garralaga) to marry off his niece Delores (Inez Cooper) to Raoul (Ted Hecht) in order to get their hands on her inheritance from her father. Cisco (Roland) and "Baby" (Frank Yaconelli) ride into town and become involved.Cisco becomes enraptured with the beautiful Delores, also known as "The Angel of San Lorenzo" because she gives her money to the poor and also plans to do so with her inheritance. Cisco also romances saloon dancer Raquel (Teala Loring) who is also involved with Raoul to obtain information. And that's basically it.Save for a short uninspired fist fight and two poorly staged sword fights between Cisco and Raoul, that's the only real action in the film. Cisco spends most of his time romancing the ladies which I'm sure would have not gone over too big with the Saturday matinée crowd.Roland again plays Cisco as the love'em and leave'em bold caballero who also smokes and drinks tequila (a no-no for "B" western heroes). Garralaga, who had played "Pacho" in an earlier series with Duncan Renaldo, again plays a weak willed villain. Hecht didn't impress me as the chief villain.In several films in this series, the name "Cisco Kid" is clearly dubbed in and the "The End" title looks an awful lot like that of Paramount Pictures. Was this series begun at Paramount as a non-Cisco Kid series. I haven't been able to find out if this was the case or not.Where's Harry Woods and Charlie King when you need them?