In 1869, Justin Eagle lives on his ranch called "The Eagle's Nest" near the town of Button Willow, California. In addition to being a rancher, Juston is a trouble-shooter for the U. S. Government which calls for him to act as an undercover operative and thwart the forces of evil in the rapidly-growing West. He is sent to San Franciso to find missing U. S. Senaator Freeman, who has disappeared while fighting the efforts of Montgomery Blaine, a villain who has been, with the aid of his henchman, "The Whip," forcing settlers to sell their land to him, not knowing that the land is in the path of a proposed railroad, from Utah, that will link the western United States to the East. Senator Freeman is the leader of an effort to veer the railroad southward to bypass Blaine's land and, for his efforts, is kidnapped by Bliane's henchmen and shanghaied from the San Francisco waterfront. Justin Eagle's job is to find and return him safely.
Production
Bizarre hybrid of limited TV animation and theatrical ambition.
Director
David Detiege
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was one of only two animated features produced by the small Eagle Films, which explains the janky, TV-budget animation stretched to theatrical length.
Dale Robertson was a genuine TV western star (Tales of Wells Fargo), lending this oddity the same celebrity-voice gimmick later perfected by Disney—just way cheaper.