The first, and apparently only, surviving film produced by the Colorado Motion Picture Company, Pirates of the Plains is a quite well-made story about two brothers, one a champion rodeo rider, the other a horse thief.
After a harsh winter, the inhabitants of a small Valencian village prepare to celebrate a wedding. An unfortunate accident pits the men and women against each other. The cunning Mayor decides to use this to his own advantage.
Duffy Burns returns from college in the East and discovers that his father's cattle are being systematically stolen by a band of unknown outlaws. Duffy resolves to catch the culprits, conceals his identity, and goes to work on his father's ranch.
Ned Bannister, manager of a sheep ranch, is accused of the murder of David Messiter, a neighboring cattle rancher. Bannister's employer, Halloway, would like to own the cattle rancher's spread. When Helen Messiter, niece of the deceased, arrives to investigate the murder, Halloway, the real culprit, tries to seduce her.
John Harley leaves his milkman job to take possession of half of a cattle ranch while waitress Sallie Summers goes west on a similar mission to take her half of their shared inheritance. Together, Harley and Sallie fight for ownership of the ranch with foreman Buck Osborne and his gang, who, to scare off the new owners, stage fake holdups, Indian battles, and gunfights.
Drifters Tom Williams and Joe Morgan have a chance meeting with the sheriff's daughter and learn that her brother Jim is being held prisoner in Line Hollow by Wolf, who aspires to be the next sheriff. They aid the sheriff in finding the outlaw gang and rescuing Jim. Tom decides to stop drifting and stay near the sheriff's daughter.
When sponsor Nottingham cancels King Russell's radio program, The Hot Shots try to change his mind. They not only fail but Nottingham's son forces them to take him back to Russell's ranch. Once there he starts playing practical jokes. With everyone disliking him and learning his father is coming, he has a plan to redeem himself.
Dean, the Bailey County Judge, is the boss of both the outlaw gang and the Sheriff. He utilizes the state law that Sheriffs have jurisdiction only in their own county. After a raid the gang merely returns to the safety of Bailey County. The Governor sends Lawyer John Hayes. When he has no success as a Lawyer he leaves town only to return disguised as an outlaw with a scheme that will nab all the culprits.
Outlaws Dale and Tucson quit Wolf's gang. Just as the two are about to rob the stage, Wolf and his gang beat them to it. Dale breaks it up saving the money and this gets him appointed Sheriff. But Wolf shows up and threatening to expose Dale, forces him to let his gang rob the express office.
Marshal Jeff sends for his friend Whit Gordon to help bring law and order to Tombstone. Bull and his gang with the help of the Sheriff and the Judge control the town. After foiling Bull's attempt to stuff the ballot boxes, newly elected Marshal Whit and his pals head to the corral for the showdown with Bull and his men.
Brad Buckner has just bought a ranch. Murdock keeps his rustled cattle on the ranch and sends his men to kill Buckner just as they did the previous owners. But Buckner and his men foil their attempts and decide to search the ranch. To throw Buckner off he kidnaps Buckner's girlfriend and the Sheriff and makes plans to drive the cattle across the border.
Rancher William Norton (Edward LeSaint) refuses to sell his cattle for half price, so saloon owner and gang leader Jim Fletcher (Dick Curtis), contrary to the orders from his secret boss Willard McGowan (Robert Warwick), the town banker, has his men rob and beat up Norton. Unknown to anyone, Marion (Iris Meredith), McGowan's adopted daughter is really the daughter of Norton, who disappeared as a young baby when she and her mother were passengers on a stagecoach held up by McGowan. Chuck Saunders (Charles Starrett), Norton's foreman, goes after the gang for robbing his boss and eventually uncovers the truth regarding Marion's heritage. In addition to Bob Nolan,"Sons of the Pioneers" Tim Spencer, Lloyd Perryman, Pat Brady, Hugh and Karl Farr are along as Norton ranch hands, and the uncredited Blackie Whiteford and Ernie Adams also appear.
The gold mine belonging to "Gun" Barlow is worked out, and Barlow attempts to buy adjacent land, with the hopes his gold vein will continue, from town postmistress Marion Saunders who, keeping a vow she made to her father on his death-bed, refuses.
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