It's a Western set in the 1870s that sees stranger-in-town Rod Cameron (John) buy a coconut from a shop and meet Lorna Gray (Julie Ann) and Ilona Massey (Lin). Sheriff George Cleveland (Sam) comes into the shop after hearing a gunshot. Cameron has shot into the coconut to get the milk and share it with the girls. He's a smooth operator. However, the sheriff recognizes Cameron as a wanted man and Cameron is forced to escape town. Whilst on the run, he bumps into fellow outlaw Forrest Tucker (Whit). Things aren't what they seem...It's an entertaining Western with a good cast and a buddy-buddy feel to it as we follow Cameron and Tucker Throw in some Indians at the climax and this film covers all bases. It has plenty of action, there is tension, the lead characters are appealing and you root for the bad guys. Well, I did. It's a shame that Massey gets 2 rubbish songs to sing. I like my Western saloon girl songs to be uptempo with a catchy tune. Not here, unfortunately.I can't wait to go to my local shop, ask for a coconut and try out my latest way of getting into the damn thing. I might buy some arms as well whilst I'm there and sell them to the enemy. Everyone seems to be up to those tricks in Westerns. And in real life, just check out what our Governments are STILL doing!

This film was very successful when released, one of the few by Republic in Trucolor. For the audience in 1948, it was good value for their money. Nice actors like Rod Cameron (Johnny) and Forrest Tucker(Whit), two pretty ladies Ilona Massey(Lin) and Adrian Booth (Julie Ann), a great sidekick Paul Fix (Calico). There are films where barely nothing happens, and films where too much happens, like this one, with shootouts, Indian attacks, the cavalry, galloping horses and a plot that goes in such a fast pace that it might not give you time to think about its implausibilities. The fake marriage of Johnny and Julie Ann makes no sense, also the shooting of the Sheriff by Johnny . The film goes too fast to absorb the sudden change in Whit's character from bad to good. James Edward Grant (story), Gerard Geraghty and Gerald Adams (screenplay) had many good films to their credit and they did a good job for the public of 1948, it just looks awkward in 2015! Ilona Massey is an interesting and charming presence, nice song she sings about Broadway. With the other lady, Adrian Booth, they add a lot to the film.

"The Plunderers" of the title is a gang of outlaws headed up by Whit Lacey (Forrest Tucker) who are committing robberies. Apparently, the gang is receiving inside information from within the town to help them set up their capers.Army Major John Drum (Rod Cameron)and Sheriff Sam Borden (George Cleveland) set up a plan where Drum will hopefully infiltrate the gang and thus lead to their eventual capture. Drum becomes friendly with Lacey to the point of "marrying" his girl friend Julie Ann (Adrian Booth) to aid in Lacey and Julie Ann's eventual escape. Drum while playing along with the masquerade, becomes smitten with saloon singer Lin Connor (Ilona Massey).Following Lacey's capture, he is taken to the army fort to be hanged. But just as justice is about to be served, an Indian attack occurs.Republic Pictures was noted as a major producer of westerns. This was one of their better ones shot in Trucolor and with an apparent higher budget than usual. The story is filled with a few little surprises to keep the viewer's interest. The Indian attack is one of the better staged such attacks making use of the studio's crack team of stunt men.As for the cast, Ilona Massey with her thick European accent is totally out of place here. It seems studio head Herbert J. Yates had a thing for European actresses. He would later marry a similarly accented Vera Hruba Ralston. Rod Cameron makes a fine upstanding hero, Forrest Tucker has you rooting for him as Lacey, Grant Withers plays against type as the dumb Deputy. Paul Fix is Tucker's henchman Calico, Francis (brother of John) Ford plays storekeeper Barnaby and Taylor Holmes upstanding citizen Martin.Other familiar faces (to "B" western fans) appearing are Hank Bell, Wheaton Chambers, Bud Osborne, Franklyn Farnum, John Hart, Clayton Moore (both of whom played The Lone Ranger) and 30s star Rex Lease.Not to be confused with the 1960 film of the same name.

A tight script, decent dialogue, and good supporting cast, separate this one from the routine shoot 'em ups. Sort of a "buddy movie" with Cameron, the lawman and Tucker the outlaw, forced to set aside differences to avoid a sioux massacre. Fix, as one of the bad guys, delivers cynical wit throughout. They just don't make 'em like this anymore.