Dynamite Pass (1950)

Simply A Masterpiece

Good movie but grossly overrated

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

Tim Holt plays Ross Taylor (not Tim Holt) and Richard Martin returns as his loyal companion Chito Rafferty for another indiscernible Holt western vehicle. Like most of Holt's corny low budget westerns, he's far too good of an actor for these pictures, which are a stones throw away from being an episode of The Cisco Kid or The Lone Ranger, with the plot revolving around feuding factions over the creating of a new road. Shootouts, barroom brawls, and chases on horseback ensue. Still, I'm fascinated by Holt, who has some staggeringly good performances in films like "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" and "The Magnificent Ambersons" and could easily have had a career making prestige pictures, but instead chose a career as a B-picture western star (although maybe this was he more lucrative choice of the two, which I certainly couldn't fault him for).

It's engineer Regis Toomey and his wife Lynne Roberts who are in need of a lot of help in constructing a new road and they get it from those two gallant knights of the plains, Tim Holt and Richard Martin. Toomey's drinking and suspicions about his wife's faithfulness isn't helping to get the job done.The local Ponderosa owner John Dehner has a road that everyone has to pay a heavy duty toll to use. Not good when you want to make a profit on your ranch cattle and farm products if you're a homesteader and Dehner's not squeamish about the methods he uses to collect and enforce.Merchant Robert Shayne is supposed to be with the people who buy at his store, but he's in complete cahoots with Dehner and the two are not dumb villains. They give Holt and Martin a good run.As you can guess by the title, dynamite plays a part in the climax of the film. Dynamite Pass is a good action filled Tim Holt western.

Tim Holt headlines this RKO low-renter from 1950. This one has Holt and partner, Rick Martin helping out a couple, Lynne Roberts and Regis Toomey. The couple are trying to build a road through the mountains to a small town.The only way in now is a toll road ran by John Dehner. Dehner and his gunmen charge a outrageous amount for people to move their goods to the town. Holt and Martin hire on to help.Needless to say bad types in Denher's employ are not shy in the six-gun area. Multiple gun-battles and horse chases keep the action going at a speedy pace.Denher's lead gunman, Denver Pyle is particularly good here. This 61 minute quickie was knocked off by b-film veteran, Lew Landers. The prolific Lander was know to be able to crank out a dozen features a year.The d of p was Nicholas Musuraca. Me worked on some of the best FILM NOIR put out by RKO He lensed the iconic film noir, OUT OF THE PAST. His other work includes, ROADBLOCK, WHERE DANGER LIVES,CAT PEOPLE, GHOST SHIP, THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE, THE LOCKET, DEADLINE AT DAWN, WOMAN ON PIER 13,BLOOD ON THE MOON, THE WHIPHAND, CLASH BY NIGHT, THE BLUE GARDENIA, THE HITCH-HIKER and SPILT SECOND.Well worth a watch if you are in the mood for a lightweight western that punches like it is in a heavier division.

Dynamite Pass is an enjoyable western. Although like all "B " westerns it had less than a substantial budget, it enjoys a good cast, storyline, and scenery. Whether starring in an "A" or "B" feature, the presence of Tim Holt usually guaranteed a worthwhile viewing experience. He had screen presence that is sadly lacking in most actors today.