The Lone Ranger Week: "Pete and Pedro" (October 27, 1949)

In "Pete and Pedro," a beautiful rancher named Ellen Carter (Sheila Ryan) is being bullied by a local thug, Jeff Grant (John Parrish).  Grant continues to kidnap her workers, and desires to own her ranch so he that can build a railroad line across it.  That's his stated reason, anyway. The truth is, Grant has located gold on Ellen's property and he wants to mine it.

The Lone Ranger (Clayton Moore) and Tonto (Jay Silverheels) arrive to help Ellen, who feels that she is being bullied in part because she is a woman.  

The Lone Ranger knows she needs ranch-workers to keep the place going, and recommends two he knows he can trust: Pedro Martinez (Don Diamond) and Pete Lacey (Rufe Davis).  These men are known as "two of the laziest hombres in the whole county" but when they see they are going to be working for lovely Ellen, they (both) fall immediately in love with her.

While Tonto infiltrates Jeff Grant's organization, The Lone Ranger, Pedro and Pete fight off the bullies trying to take Ellen's land.  Then, Grant captures the entire group, including Ellen's foreman, Bill (William F. Leicester) and Tonto, and traps them in a burning barn.

The heroes manage to escape the death trap, and get the jump on Jeff Grant.  

Finally, Pedro and Pete are disappointed to learn that Ellen is already in love with Bill, but are happy to accept long-term jobs on the ranch...

"Pete and Pedro" does a good job dealing with women's rights in the Old West, and Ellen Carter is a tough, capable character.  The episode does a bit less well with Pete and Pedro, who form an obnoxious comedy duo, and quickly wear out their welcome.  The presentation of the Pedro character -- a Mexican -- is a bit two-dimensional, to be certain.

This is the first Lone Ranger episode I've watched that seems to drag a bit, as endless time is spent with Pete and Pedro bickering about which of them Ellen loves more.  The didactic-nature of previous episodes continues here, however, with commentary on the strong exploiting the weak. As is universally the case, the Lone Ranger defends the weak.

Produced more than sixty years ago, The Lone Ranger remains a truly adventurous and action-packed series.  "Pete and Pedro" may not be its finest (half) hour, but still the series' virtues shine through.