MartinHafer This is a Three Mesquiteer movie from Republic Pictures. This was a very popular series from the 1930s and 40s and while they were generally pretty well made and enjoyable, the composition of the cast changed frequently. While the most popular trio probably was the one that consisted of Robert Livingston, Ray Corrigan and Max Terhune, many other guys were members of this movie gang. In "New Frontier", you may be surprised to see John Wayne in the lead, though he played the leader of this group for eight movies. And, while the bizarre duo of Max Terhune and his dummy (literally a ventriloquist's dummy) are not in this one, the very familiar Raymond Hatton plays the third Mesquiteer. As for the middle guy, Ray Corrigan was on hand for this.Like many of the B-westerns of the day, this one actually is set in the modern day. It's very surreal to see cowboys riding about on horses one minute and the next seeing modern construction machinery! It's one of those weird things you just have to accept in films with Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and the Mesquiteers.One standout thing about this otherwise ordinary film is the presence of Jennifer Jones. Here she plays the usual not too romantic female lead who falls, kind of, the the leader of the Mesquiteers. She's pretty bland here--but this sort of role is almost always bland and forgettable. What's amazing is that Jones did these sort of roles for such a short period and was soon making A-pictures--culminating with her receiving an Oscar for Best Actress for "The Song of Bernadette" only four years later.The plot is very different--which is a plus. However, it's also a reasonably dull plot. A town is condemned by the state. That's because a dam is going to be built to flood the valley. The folks are naturally mad, but they are assured that they will be relocated to much better land--land that is fertile and with plenty of water. However, after using the Mesquiteers to sell the idea to the town, the trio learn that the project is a shame. What are they to do to be niceness and justice to the modern range? Overall, it's exactly what a fan of these films should expect. Quickly made, a relatively bad old print and a threadbare story. It's enjoyable but no better than average--at best.

Mike-764 New Hope Valley is celebrating its 50th anniversary, but the celebration is short lived by the arrival of assemblyman Proctor and developer Gilbert, who announce that New Hope Valley is being condemned so that the land can be used for the site of a new dam which will give water to nearby developing communities. This riles the residents who attack the developers while they are on construction. Gilbert, who is stopping at no lengths to see the project completed, is convinced that the residents will listen to Stony, Tucson, and Rusty, so he tells them of their plan of moving to a new piece of land where they will have irrigation and the chance to start anew on their farms. However the Three Mesquiteers learn that this was just a dupe by Gilbert & Proctor since they have no plans to carry water to that new valley, and the three go to confront Gilbert and his men before they flood New Hope Valley. Another well done entry in the 3 Mesquiteers series despite the fact that the villainous element isn't seen until 30 minutes into the picture and there is very little in the ways of action until the very end. Like their next film Wyoming Outlaw, this is another entry in the series dealing with issues of the times primarily the leaving of the town versus the use of progress to help nearby communities. Well done with an excellent finale at the dam. Rating, based on B westerns, 7.

bkoganbing John Wayne said farewell to the Three Mesquiteers film series and to the character of Stoney Burke he had played in them. The Mesquiteers would continue on without the Duke as they had before him. Herbert J. Yates and Republic finally decided that Wayne had become too big a star to continue him in B westerns. His next film after this was a loan out to RKO, Allegheny Uprising.In fact there was another change in the cast, Max Terhune left the series even before this and was replaced by Raymond Hatton.New Frontier, not to be confused with the Kennedy administration, also has Phyllis Isley as the leading lady. Her next film would win her an Academy Award and a name change to Jennifer Jones. Of course that is the Song of Bernadette. She never did do a film with Wayne after this, but I'm guessing it was because the Duke didn't want to work for David O. Selznick.This entry in the Mesquiteers films deals with the right of eminent domain. The Mesquiteers ranch and the property of all the others in New Hope Valley has been condemned because the state wants to build a dam for a large city and create a reservoir where their property is. This subject was dealt with in a quite serious way in Elia Kazan's film Wild River about the Tennessee Valley Authority. Of course here it's all part of land swindle, but Stoney, Tucson, and Rusty put things to right in the end and do it with the same pioneer spirit their ancestors showed.You would expect anything else from a John Wayne film?

frason@optusnet.com.au Starring: John Wayne, Ray Corrigan and Raymond Hatton.A great western style movie full of action. This story is about Three Mesquiteers who trade their property to these guys who capture them and they don't have time to warn their friends, The Ranchers. A fantastic movie that the whole family will enjoy!