"The Outcast" of the title is Jet Cosgrave (John Derek) who returns home after eight years to claim the ranch left him by his father but swindled away from him by his unscrupulous uncle Major Linton Cosgrave (Jim Davis) and his lawyer Andrew Devlin (Taylor Holmes).

Jet meets his uncle's fiancé Alice Austin (Catherine McLeod) and sets out to take her away from his uncle. Into the mix comes Judy Polsen (Joan Evans) the daughter of a rival rancher Chad Polsen (Frank Ferguson). Slim Pickens plays Judy's brother the hard ridin' Boone Polsen.

Jet has hired a group of gunman led by the murderous Dude Rankin (Bob Steele) who guns a helpless ranch cook in the back. On the other side is Cal Prince (James Millican) and his gang which includes the trigger happy "The Kid" (Ben Cooper) and Bert (Harry Carey Jr.). Double crosses abound until the final showdown between the two Cosgraves.

The film was directed by Republic veteran William Whitney best known for his work in serials and his realistic fight scenes. He even allowed Roy Rogers to display a blood trickle in "Trail of Robin Hood" (1950).

John Derek was more renowned for his off-screen life than for his acting. He was fortunate enough to have been married at one time or another to three of the most beautiful women of their day..Ursula Andress, Linda Evans and Bo Derek. To me he didn't make a very convincing hero though. I couldn't see him besting the 6' 4" Jim Davis in a fight.

Jim Davis was a familiar face in many Republic westerns of the period. He usually played a villain but did on occasion did play on the right side of the law. Slim Pickens was working in Republic's Rex Allen series at the time and also turned up in a couple of Republic's "A" features as well. Bob Steele had been a "B" series star in the 30s and had been reduced to supporting roles from the late 40s onward. He was at his best as a villain as in this film. James Millican was a veteran of several Randolph Scott westerns and Harry Carey Jr. was a familiar face in several John Ford Westerns. Ben Cooper was being groomed by Republic to be their next juvenile lead.

Great photography, action, color and story and except for Derek as the hero, a great cast.