Like father like son is the primary theme of this movie. Slim Braddock (portrayed by actor Tim McCoy) is a miner who turns from being an upright citizen to a robber after a banker named Williams swindles him. Williams has too much money to back him in court and Braddock loses the case.

Braddock becomes the “Phantom,” and he holds up stages. But deep inside Braddock longs for justice, and at one point tells his gang to “fire over their heads” when they’re about to rob a stagecoach. When he reaches the stagecoach, Braddock is kind to an older lady and when he sees a passenger who is an attorney eyeing her purse, he comments, “I’d be very careful with that purse, ma’am. You know, all bandits don’t ride horses!” He looks at the attorney while saying this and gives the lady back her purse.

Banker Williams continues his conniving and bullying ways, threatening the local sheriff that if he doesn’t apprehend the phantom, he’ll make sure the town gets a new sheriff.

Braddock, pursued by the sheriff and a posse, is hit and he leaves his horse behind, heading for his home. The sheriff sees blood on the trail and follows Braddock to his home. Braddock has a few tender moments with his son, Tim, before the sheriff catches up to him. When he learns it was banker Williams Braddock was stealing from, to give to a person being harassed by him, the sheriff remembers what Williams did to him and feels bad for him. He dies but his son Tim will not soon forget the pain that banker Williams has caused.

Tim McCoy plays Braddock’s son Tim, and Tim is bent on vengeance for what happened to his father. Tim is a crack shot like his father and at one point shoots a gun out of a man’s hand. Tim is determined to catch Williams in one of his schemes, and he gets his opportunity when Williams plans to blow up a local mine. He wants the miners’ land and plans to put them out of business. And when Tim catches Williams attempting to shoot a man (it’s really just clothes and a hat wrapped up in a blanket), he has the proof he needs of Williams’ villainy and scheming.

The film does a good job in showing characters struggling with choices, between good and bad, and wanting justice. It makes the point that there is a difference between vengeance and justice. And Tim McCoy does a commendable job in portraying both a father and his son. Due to its theme of helping others and that evil always leads to a downfall, the film has merited our Dove seal for Ages 12+.

The Dove Take

The struggle for good over evil is nicely portrayed in this action-packed classic Western.