Two scammers offer a gangfighter named Choya (Spanish for cactus) to participate in the same case. He must pretend to be the son of a wealthy rancher named Lavery, who was kidnapped from his family at age 5. He gets a tattoo in the form of a birthmark on his shoulder, by which he is recognized. One of the crooks, Leaf kills the other so he doesn't share the spoils. Choya gets a job at the Lavery ranch and meets the daughter of the owner Ruth.
Quite a standard middle-hand western from a good director and much more masterful cameraman Rudolf Mate. The film is based on the novel by Max Brand, one of the most famous authors of Westerns, of which he wrote 300 pieces.
Before us is a typical story about a shooter under the influence of love changing for the better. The picture does not offer anything new and the plot develops without special surprises.
Starring Alan Ladd, one of the most popular movie stars of the 40s, became famous for films in a duet with Veronica Lake. “Standed” is only the second western of his career. his most famous role awaits three years later in “Shane”. Here he plays well, but somehow detached (especially noticeable in love scenes). In the background, Hollywood starlet Mona Freeman and villain Joseph Callia.
Not bad shot, but without special merits Western.
6 out of 10