Singing Guns

"Mule Train", one of the songs featured in this 1950 Republic Western and sung by Vaughn Monroe, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1950, but lost out to "Mona Lisa" from Captain Carey, U.S.A.. A wanted outlaw named Rhiannon has stashed a million dollars worth of gold stolen from the Great Western Mining Company.

The sheriff from the nearby town of Goldville, Jim Caradac, hides inside a stagecoach reported to be carrying more of the company's gold.

He follows the stage to the edge of town and forces Caradac to walk down the middle of the street dressed in a pair of women's underwear, much to the amusement of the residents.

That evening, Rhiannon receives his first call from Nan, who asks for help ejecting a drunken man, Mike Murphy from her saloon.

By Sunday morning, the jail is packed with drunks, so Rhiannon releases them and makes each one promise to attend church or face a $10 fine.

When the Great Western Mine catches on fire and several miners are trapped inside, Rhiannon risks his own life to save them, including Mike.

Seeing him with his face half covered, Nan recognizes Rhiannon as the outlaw who attacked her stagecoach and decides to report it to Jim, who has since partially recovered.

Later, Nan with the aid of Mike helps Rhiannon escape from jail, and by pretending to be romantically interested in him, convinces him to take her to his hideout where he has hidden the stolen gold.