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)”
Lash (Lash La Rue) and Fuzzy (Al St. John) are called in by a friend who has found gold in his mine, only to discover the friend is missing. The two pursue their investigation, uncovering a murder along the way. There are some good action sequences and fun whip work as well in this programmer. …
Joel McCrea does a solid job as a stage company detective seeking to uncover the crook(s) responsible for recent holdups. To accomplish his goal, he goes to work for the local sheriff (Addison Richards) as deputy. Velvet Clark (Mark Stevens), the man responsible for the crimes, proves to be a ruthless killer, and though the …
Singer Jimmy Wakely starred as a singing cowboy in a fair number of movies for Monogram Pictures in the 1940s. In this entry, in which he is teamed with Dennis Moore and Lee “Lasses” White, Wakely and his pals contend against a crooked town boss (Rex Lease) and his tame marshal while framed. Wakely’s smooth …
Read the full post →“Monogram Monday: <em>Springtime in Texas</em> (Monogram, 1945)”
My first movie of 2021 was a B western, and my first for 2022 is one as well. John Wayne stars as Captain John Ashley, a veteran of the Civil War who fought in the Union Army and returns to Texas to find a chilly welcome from former friends and neighbors, and even from the …
Read the full post →“<em>The Lonely Trail</em> (Republic, 1936)”
Stony (Robert Livingston) is headed for the altar with new flame Rita (Rita Hayworth) as all three Mesquiteers &mash; Tucson (Ray Corrigan) and Lullaby (Max Terhune) — try to fend off a change in policy that would allow a greedy rancher (J. P. McGowan) to target herds of wild horses. In a familiar plot, the …
Read the full post →“<em>Hit the Saddle</em> (Republic, 1937)”
Ken Maynard stars as Jim “Trigger” Morton, newly released from prison after serving time for a crime he did not commit. Trigger is seeking revenge on the man responsible for putting him behind bars, and he ends up the lawman of the title, in which capacity he must deal with other crooks as well. Marjorie …
Read the full post →“<em>Six-Shootin’ Sheriff</em> (Grand National, 1938)”
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)”
Russell Hayden plays Sheriff Lucky Crandall in this tale of crooks after a gold mine, a rancher who won’t let them use his land, and a sister dealing with her outlaw brother. Dub Taylor provides comic support as Cannonball, and Bob Will and His Texas Playboys add some excellent music. Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks …
Read the full post →“<em>A Tornado in the Saddle</em> (Columbia, 1942)”
The Llano Kid (Tom Tyler) is holding up stages and stealing gold being shipped by mine-owner and Montana Slade (Al Bridge); a sort-of Robin Hood, the Kid then turns the loot over to those who had been cheated by Slade. The Kid’s efforts hit a snag, though, when he gets involved with a woman (Adele …
Read the full post →“<em>When a Man Rides Alone</em> (1933)”
