Pals of the Saddle is one of the more engaging entries in Republic's
Three Mesquiteers Western series. Ray Corrigan and Max Terhune repeat their standard roles of Tucson Smith and Lullaby Joslin; the role of Stony Brooke, recently vacated by Bob Livingston, is here played by none other than
John Wayne. The
Mesquiteers films fluctuated between period stories and contemporary tales. This time around, we're in 1938, and Stony is chasing after foreign agents who are trying to steal and smuggle a secret weapon, the deadly chemical "monium," out of the United States. Director
George Sherman paces this 55-minute effort like a Republic serial, with excellent results. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide