OUTLAWS OF SONORA (1938) Robert Livingston, Ray Corrigan & Jean Joyce | Drama, Western | B&W

Outlaws of Sonora is a 1938 American Western "Three Mesquiteers" B-movie directed by George Sherman. It stars Bob Livingston, Ray Corrigan and Max Terhune. Livingston has a dual role as Mesquiteer Stony Brooke and his outlaw doppelgänger Dude Brannen.

SYNOPSIS
Dude's gang captures Stony and seeing the resemblance, Dude poses as Stony. Wanted for the robberies and murder committed by Dude, a wounded Stony escapes. After Doc Martin fixes him up, Dude's gang kidnaps Martin to operate on Dude. Now it's Stonys turn to pose as Dude as the Mesquiteers try to round up the gang.

Stony, Tucson and Lullaby are hired by the Mesquite County Cattleman's Association in Cactusville to collect a payroll from a bank in distant Red Rock. Stony is given the warrant and rides to Red Rock where Tucson and Lullaby are waiting. On the way, Stony is waylaid and captured by an outlaw gang led by Dude Brannen who is Stony's doppelgänger. Posing as Stony, Brannen goes to the bank to collect the payroll. The manager realises he is not Stony and Brannen shoots him. He takes the payroll and escapes as Tucson, Lullaby and the sheriff arrive to investigate the gunshot.

Notices are posted for Stony's arrest although his friends do not believe he has become an outlaw. Brannen decides to continue his duplicity and his gang carry out more robberies and murders. They become notorious as the Brooke Gang with Stony publicised as their leader. Having decided that the gang has made enough money to live well and go to Mexico, Brannen has the idea of plastic surgery done to end the resemblance. Stony will be handed over to the authorities and the gang will claim the reward money as bounty.

Stony manages to escape but is wounded in the shoulder as he rides away. He eludes his pursuers and makes his way to the remote cabin where the Mesquiteers are based. Believing his story, Tucson and Lullaby have to hide him when a posse arrives. All three ride to another hideout but Stony's wound has made him ill and the others fetch Doc Martin from Red Rock. Doc removes the bullet from Stony's shoulder and dresses the wound. He orders a reluctant Stony to rest and recuperate. Doc returns to his surgery in Red Rock but is then kidnapped by two of Brannen's gang. Thinking quickly, Doc tells them he will need a prescription done before he can perform the operation on Brannen. He writes it in Latin and one of the outlaws takes the note to the chemist while the other takes Doc to a saloon where he will meet Brannen and operate. The chemist reads the prescription and sees it is in fact a secret message. After alerting the sheriff, he gives the outlaw a fake prescription. The outlaw leaves and the posse follow him.

Tucson and Lullaby are in the saloon and see Doc being brought in. Then, to their surprise, a man comes in who is a dead ringer for Stony.

CAST & CREW
Bob Livingston as Stony Brooke / Dude Brannen
Ray Corrigan as Tucson Smith
Max Terhune as Lullaby Joslin
Jack Mulhall as Dr George Martin
Otis Harlan as Pool player
Jean Joyce as Miss McCoy, Secretary
Sterlita Peluffo as Rosita (as Stelita Peluffo)
Tom London as Sheriff Trask
Gloria Rich as Stony's friend
Edwin Mordant as Banker Pierce
Ralph Peters as Henchman Gabby
George Chesebro as Henchman Slim
Frank LaRue as Coroner
Jack Ingram as Henchman Nick
Merrill McCormick as Henchman Pete

Directed by George Sherman
Written by William Colt MacDonald, Betty Burbridge, Edmond Kelso
Produced by William Berke
Cinematography William Nobles
Edited by Tony Martinelli
Music by Alberto Colombo
Distributed by Republic Pictures
Release date April 14, 1938
Running time 55 minutes
Country United States
Language English

NOTES
Films in the Mesquiteer series are normally considered traditional Westerns but Outlaws of Sonora is an exception; it has a revisionist theme as an early example of the Outlaw/Gunfighter sub-genre.