Phantom Ranger (Monogram, 1938)

An abducted government engraver is being used to create counterfeit bills, and a federal agent is sent west to track down the source of the phony money in this slight but reasonably enjoyable Tim McCoy outing, in which he pretends to be a crook to get an in with the gang holding the engraver. As …

Poker with Pistols (1967)

A drifter (George Hilton) takes a job driving a wagon on a dangerous trek and finds betrayal awaiting him as well. Plenty of twists in this western, originally titled Un poker di pistole, with both the drifter and others playing complicated games aimed at bigger payoffs. Enjoyable but unremarkable.   Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this …

The Stranger from Ponca City (Columbia, 1947)

The Durango Kid (Charles Starrett) tangles with a band of rustlers in this one, a relatively unmemorable entry in the series. There’s a plus in the form of a supposedly haunted ranch, and Smiley Burnette provides his usual comic support.   Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great. Movie 202 for …

The Local Bad Man (Allied, 1932)

To cover a shortfall in their bank, the Murdock brothers come up with a scheme to ship money out by rail and then rob the train — thereby putting the railroad on the hook for the sum while keeping the cash themselves. Local rancher Jim Bonner (Hoot Gibson) and his pals throw a wrench into …

The Gunman from Bodie (Monogram, 1941)

In the second of the entertaining series of Rough Riders movies from Monogram starring Buck Jones, Tim McCoy, and Raymond Hatton, Buck poses as a wanted killer, with Tim as the marshal on his trail, while Sandy (Raymond Hatton) works as a cook, all to foil a criminal plan to gain water rights for a …

The Telegraph Trail (WB, 1933)

A businessman (Albert J. Smith) who controls shipments to an isolated town foments Indian raids to prevent the completion of the telegraph line that will mean the end to his monopoly. John Trent (John Wayne) and his sidekick (Frank McHugh) are sent to investigate after a partial message describing an attack is received. What follows …

Land of Hunted Men (Monogram, 1943)

In the 21st entry in the series, Ray Corrigan returns to the Range Busters, but John “Dusty” King has departed, along with David Sharpe; Dennis Moore joins as well, and Max “Alibi” Terhune, with Elmer, remains (the only member of the trio to star in all 24 movies). This time around, the boys are looking …

Way Out West (MGM, 1937)

Laurel and Hardy are in the Wild West, trying to deliver a valuable deed to the daughter of a dead prospector, but they must overcome the scheming of the daughter’s employer and his conniving wife to do so. There are plenty of laughs, and the boys perform a nice, amusing little musical number (“The Trail …

Take a Hard Ride (Twentieth Century Fox, 1975)

Absorbing tale of a man (Jim Brown), loyal to his dead boss (Dana Andrews), who undertakes to carry money from the sale of cattle back across the desert to his employer’s Mexican ranch. Along the way, he gets help from a gambler (Fred Williamson) in dealing with the many folks who are chasing the money …