George Chandler

The San Fernando Valley adventures of trucker turned prize-fighter Philo Beddoe and his pet orangutan Clyde. Philo Beddoe (Clint Eastwood) is an easy-going trucker and a great fist-fighter. With two friends, Orville (Geoffrey Lewis), who promotes prize-fights for him, and Clyde (Manis the Orangutan), the orangutan he won on a bet, he roams the San Fernando Valley in search of cold beer, country music, and the occasional punch-up. But he is floored by country and western singer Lynn Halsey-Taylor (Sondra Locke), who gives him the slip when she realizes he's getting too serious. Phil, Clyde, and Orville set off in pursuit, pestered by bikers. —David Wark <dwark@automail.com>

Various stage coach passengers and outlaws travelling through Indian country are forced to join forces against the Apaches. When drifters Jim Walker and Bill Gibson find a settlers' wagon destroyed by Apaches, they immediately suspect an Apache uprising. The Tontos and the Mescaleros Apaches have stirred trouble in recent months, partially to protest against settlers' incursions on Apache lands. The two drifters ride into an Apache ambush and they have to fight their way out. Shortly after, they encounter a Cavalry patrol and they inform Captain Gannon about a possible Apache revolt. Captain Gannon is skeptical about it but agrees to allow the two drifters join his column on their way to Apache Wells where the Captain expects a full report from Jim and Bill regarding their incident with the Apaches. Meanwhile, in Apache Wells, the stagecoach lines' regional manager, Hoyt Taylor, is preparing to board the stage for Lordsburg. He is carrying a large sum of money belonging to the stage lines.Aware of this, outlaws Vance Buckner, Jess Cooney and Toby Jack Saunders plan to rob the stagecoach outside the town. Two of them pose as stagecoach passengers while the third plans to join them at the next relay station. Also on the stage is another passenger, Janice MacKenzie, a saloon girl of dubious morals whom the townsfolk have shunned and ordered out of their community. The Cavalry patrol and drifters Jim Walker and Bill Gibson also arrive in town, after being harassed on the way by Apaches. When asked to provide escort to the stagecoach to Lordsburg, Captain Gannon refuses and advises against the voyage, due to concerns over the Apaches but most passengers and the stage line managers insist on making the trip. Last minute, drifters Jim and Bill join the stagecoach and ride shotgun. The perilous voyage to Lordsburg begins.

In Tucson of the 1860s, a pioneer woman struggles to succeed in the freight and cattle business while at risk at the hands of corrupt and violent local businessmen and rampaging Indians. Phoebe Titus is a tough, swaggering pioneer woman, but her ways become decidedly more feminine when she falls for California bound Peter Muncie. But Peter won't be distracted from his journey and Phoebe is left alone and plenty busy with villains Jefferson Carteret and Lazarus Ward plotting at every turn to destroy her freighting company. She has not seen the last of Peter, however. —Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>