Rather than a put-up battle between ranchers and sheepherders or farmers, this Durango Kid outing features a fomented conflict between ranchers and miners. When Steve Downey (Charles Starrett) seeks to reopen the mine that was owned by his murdered brother-in-law, the crooks behind the killing commit another, with Steve framed for the crime, and it’s …
Read the full post →“<em>South of Death Valley</em> (Columbia, 1949)”
Steve Reynolds (Charles Starrett) and Smiley (Smiley Burnette) come to the aid of an Indian boy who has inherited a contract to round up wild horses for the Army, which he can keep only so long as he manages to deliver 300 head within a month’s time. The nefarious Grat Hanlon (Clayton Moore) deploys his …
Read the full post →“<em>Cyclone Fury</em> (Columbia, 1951)”
It’s another plot to force ranchers off their land in this Durango Kid outing, with alter ego Steve Roper (Charles Starrett in both roles) a range detective brought in to investigate. Smiley Burnette is once again on hand to lend some comic and musical support, but the overall effort is a middling entry in the …
Read the full post →“<em>Challenge of the Range</em> (Columbia, 1949)”
The Durango Kid (Charles Starrett) takes a hand when a suspicious will of a murdered man apparently leaves the bulk of his property to a wastrel son rather than his hard-working sibling. As with many of the series entries, flashback narration provides a portion of the running time, and there’s musical and comedy relief from …
Read the full post →“<em>The Blazing Trail</em> (Columbia, 1949)”
Morgan (George Chesebro), part owner of a freight outfit, frames his partner, Dan Parks (Jim Bannon), for smuggling government gold. Parks escapes arrest and becomes a fugitive, and it’s up to the Durango Kid (Charles Starrett) to clear his name and bring the real culprit to justice. Smiley Burnette is on hand with his comedy …
Read the full post →“<em>Trail to Laredo</em> (Columbia, 1948)”
Family is at the center of this Durango Kid outing, as Sheriff Jeff Clinton (George Chesebro) and outlaw Black Murphy (Steve Darrell) are grandfathers to a young girl (Anita Castle) who plays an important part in the plot, both as welcome family and as target for a villain. Steve Rollins (Charles Starrett) initially is helping …
Read the full post →“<em>West of Sonora</em> (Columbia, 1948)”
Someone is setting homesteaders and ranchers against each other to start a range war. Marshal Steve Collins, aka the Durango Kid (Charles Starrett), investigates and finds clues pointing to more than one suspect. Some evidence implicates the local attorney, though his daughter blames the banker instead. Steve is also aided by Smiley (Smiley Burnette), who …
Read the full post →“<em>Phantom Valley</em> (Columbia, 1948)”
Clever series entry has the villain Decker (Hugh Prosser) tricking Steve Norris (Charles Starrett) into thinking he had gunned down the local sheriff. After Decker forces Steve to take on the lawman’s role as his tool, it’s up to Steve’s alter ego, the Durango Kid, to thwart Decker’s lawless activities. Smiley Burnette is again on …
Treasury agent Steve Waring (Charles Starrett) is looking to recover $100,000 hidden by deceased outlaw Lucky Thorpe (Al Bridge). Thorpe’s daughter (Virginia Hunter) is likewise hoping to find the money and return it, while Thorpe’s second wife, conniving Clara Brent (Mary Newton), seeks to recover the loot for herself. Fortunately, Steve’s alter ego, the Durango …
Read the full post →“<em>Last Days of Boot Hill</em> (Columbia, 1947)”
Famed outlaw Dusty Morton has apparently resurfaced after a decade, and crooks in the area are eager to find where Morton hid his loot. Morton’s son, now 13, does not believe his father was such a bad man, though he has little support for such a positive view, save for the opinion of the town …
Read the full post →“<em>Riders of the Lone Star</em> (Columbia, 1947)”
