Aces Wild (1936)

Director: Harry L. Fraser

Writer: Harry L. Fraser (as Weston Edwards)

Producer: William Berke

Cinematographer: Robert E. Cline

Sound: Corson Jowett

Editor: Arthur A. Brooks

Assistant Director: William L. Nolte

Music:

Stunts: Jack Hendricks, Bill Patton, Francis Walker

 

Production Company: William Berke Productions Inc.

Cast

Harry Carey as Cheyenne Harry Morgan
Gertrude Messinger as Martha Worth
Theodore Lorch as Kelton (Credited as Ted Lorch)
Roger Williams as Slim - Henchman
Chuck Morrison as Hank - Henchman
Phil Dunham as Anson - Editor
Fred 'Snowflake' Toones - Snowflake (Credited as 'Snowflake')
Sonny the Marvel Horse as Sonny - Cheyenne's Horse (Credited as 'Sonny')

Ed Cassidy as Blacksmith (uncredited)
Jack Evans as Barfly (uncredited)
Jack Hendricks as Posse Rider (uncredited)
William McCall as Sheriff Ted (uncredited)
Bill Patton as Townsman (uncredited)
Francis Walker as Townsman (uncredited) 

Plot

Cheyenne rides into Durango and runs into his old enemy Kelton. Kelton brings his safe to the town that has no bank and lets the townspeople put their valuables in it. He intends to steal the loot and flee. When Durango exacts his plan, Cheyenne gets the Sheriff to join in the chase.

Review

Not seen yet.

Interesting Additional Information

Title Screens

 

The Cheyenne Tornado (1935)

Director: William A. O'Connor
Writer: Oliver Drake
Producer: Willis Kent
Cinematographer: Harvey Gould
Sound: T.T. Triplett
Editor: S. Roy Luby
Production Manager: Bartlett A. Carre
Music: David Broekman (Stock Music)
Stunts: Dick Botiller, Art Dillard, Bert Dillard, Bill Hickey, Jack Jones, Eddie Juaregui, Tracy Layne, Lew Morphy, Bud Pope

Production Company: Willis Kent Productions
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Cast

 

Reb Russell - Red - Cheyenne Kid
Victoria Vinton - Jane Darnell
Roger Williams - Clem

Edmund Cobb - Pete Lang
Tina Menard - Rita Farley
Winton Perry - Jim Darnell (Credited as Winton Parry)
Dick Botiller - Filipe
Ed Porter - James Farley
Rebel - The Kid's Horse

Hank Bell - Sheriff (uncredited)
Smiley Burnette - Singer Over Credits (uncredited)
Bartlett A. Carre - Deputy (uncredited)
Art Dillard - Henchman (uncredited)
Bert Dillard - Henchman (uncredited)
Jack Evans - Henchman (uncredited)
Oscar Gahan - Barfly (uncredited)
Bill Hickey - Henchman (uncredited)
Jack Jones - Cabin Henchman (uncredited)
Jack King - Joe - Henchman (uncredited)
Tracy Layne - Slim - Henchman (uncredited)
Clyde McClary - Barfly (uncredited)
Lafe McKee - Seth Darnell (uncredited)
Lew Morphy - Posse Rider (uncredited)
Bud Pope - Henchman (uncredited)
Arthur Thalasso - Bartender (uncredited)

Plot

A cattle rancher is killed and the sheep men are blamed. The Cheyenne Kid arrives to help out and discovers the real truth behind the murder.

Review

Not seen yet.

Interesting Additional Information

Title Screens

Border Phantom (1937)

 

Director: S. Roy Luby

Writer: Fred Myton (Story and Screenplay)
Producer: A.W. Hackel
Cinematographer: Jack Greenhalgh
Sound: Clifford A. Ruberg
Editor: S. Roy Luby
Music: Unknown
Stunts: Tommy Coats, Matty Roubert

Production Company: Supreme Pictures 

Cast

Bob Steele - Larry O'Day
Harley Wood - Barbara Hartwell
Don Barclay - Lucky Smith
Karl Hackett - Obed Young
Horace Murphy - Sheriff Murphy
Miki Morita - Chang Lu
Perry Murdock - Jim Barton
Hans Joby - Dr. Von Kurtz
Frank Ball - Prof. Andrew Hartwell

Budd Buster - Man Springing Barb from Jail (uncredited)
Horace B. Carpenter - Old Barfly (uncredited)
Ed Cassidy - Big-City Newspaper-Editor (uncredited)
Barney Furey - Man in Barn (uncredited)
Oscar Gahan - Barfly (uncredited)
Jack Gardner - Newspaper-Reporter (uncredited)
Clyde McClary - Bartender Gus (uncredited)
Beal Wong - Smuggler-Servant (uncredited) 

Plot

Review

Not seen yet.

Interesting Additional Information

Title Screens

Jubal (1956)

Director: Delmer Daves
Writer: Russell S. Hughes and Delmer Daves (Screenplay), Paul I. Wellman (Novel)
Producer: William Fadiman
Cinematographer: Charles Lawton Jr. (Director of Photography)
Sound: John P. Livadary (Recording Supervisor), Harry Smith
Editor: Al Clark
Assistant Director: Eddie Saeta
Art Direction: Carl Anderson

Set Decoration: Louis Diage
Music: David Raksin
Costme Design: Jean Louis (Gowns)
Stunts: John Cason

Production Company: Columbia Pictures

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cast

 

Glenn Ford - Jubal Troop
Ernest Borgnine - Shep Horgan
Rod Steiger - 'Pinky' Pinkum
Valerie French - Mae Horgan
Felicia Farr - Naomi Hoktor
Basil Ruysdael - Shem Hoktor
Noah Beery Jr. - Sam - Horgan Rider
Charles Bronson - Reb Haislipp
John Dierkes - Carson - Horgan Rider
Jack Elam - McCoy - Bar 8 Rider
Robert Burton - Dr. Grant

John Cason - Ranch Owner (uncredited)
Michael Daves - One of the Tolliver Boys (uncredited)
Juney Ellis - Charity Hoktor (uncredited)
Don C. Harvey - Jim Tolliver (uncredited)
Robert 'Buzz' Henry - One of the Tolliver Boys (uncredited)
Larry Hudson - Bayne (uncredited)
Robert Knapp - Jake Slavin (uncredited)
Ann Kunde - Member of Hoktor's Wagon Train (uncredited)
William Rhinehart - Matt (uncredited)
Guy Wilkerson - Cookie (uncredited)  

 

Plot

 

 

 

Review

 

A superior version of the story about a drifter with a mysterious past turning up and being taken in by a rancher. There are good performances from the leading actors, but it is Ernest Borgnine who steals the show with a performance to match that of his Oscar-winning turn in Marty. His transformation from a happy man to a man with pure revenge in his eyes was incredible. Reminded me of the role played by Edward G. Robinson in Two Seconds (1932). There is the added bonus of the film being shot in glorious colour. Great film.

 

Interesting Additional Information

 

 

 

Title Screens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High Lonesome (1950)

Director: Alan Le May
Writer: Alan Le May
Producer: George Templeton
Cinematographer: W. Howard Greene
Sound: Harold Lewis, Walter Oberst
Editor: Jack Ogilvie
Assistant Director: James Paisley, Harry Templeton
Art Direction: John B. Goodman
Music: Rudy Schrager
Costme Design: Byron Munson (Wardrobe)
Stunts: Frank Cordell (Stunt Coordinator), Clem Fuller

Production Company: Le May-Templeton Pictures
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cast

 

John Drew Barrymore - Cooncat (Credited as John Barrymore Jr.)
Chill Wills - Boatwhistle - Ranch Cook
John Archer - Pat Farrell
Lois Butler - Meagan Davis
Kristine Miller - Abby Davis
Basil Ruysdael - 'Horse' Davis - Ranch Owner
Jack Elam - Smiling Man
Dave Kashner - Roper
Frank Cordell - Frank
Clem Fuller - Dixie
Hugh Aiken - Art Simms
Howard Joslin - Jim Shell

Plot

A young drifter, who is new to the area, is the prime suspect when a sudden spurt of murders occurs in Texas Big Bend country. 

Review

John Drew Barrymore shows that the Barrymore talent has been passed down from his father in this dramatic performance. He was only 17 or 18 when filming began and showed a great sense of maturity in the role of the young drifter whilst also maintaining the drifter's struggles of making sense of the world. A very good film to watch for action and some suspense and at less than 90 minutes it doesn't drag at any point. Although there is love interest, which seemed to be in every film of this era, it doesn't get in the way too much of what we want to see; the tense action of a young man trying to convey his innocence to disbelieving cattle ranchers.

Additional Interesting Information

John Drew Barrymore is the father of Drew Barrymore and the son of screen legends John Barrymore and Dolores Costello. Barrymore's portrayal of a troubled young man rather reflects his own life with the drug and alcohol abuse replacing the horse thievery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chill Wills was not only an actor, but he was also a singer and a songwriter. He co-wrote and sang the song that was featured in this film, '20 Miles from Carson', with the director Alan Le May. He is also famous for having been in Laurel and Hardy's feature Western, 'Way Out West' in 1937 as one of The Avalon Boys and provided the voice for 'Francis the Talking Mule' in the film series starring Donald O'Connor.
 

Title Screens

Destry Rides Again (1939)

Director: George Marshall
Writer: Felix Jackson (Original Story suggested by the novel 'Destry Rides Again' by Max Brand), Felix Jackson, Gertrude Purcell, Henry Myers (Screenplay)

Producer: Joe Pasternak
Associate Producer: Islin Auster
Cinematographer: Hal Mohr
Sound: Bernard B. Brown (Supervisor), Robert Pritchard

Editor: Milton Carruth
Assistant Director: Vernon Keays

Art Direction: Jack Otterson
Music: Frank Skinner (Score), Charles Previn (Musical Director)

Costme Design: Vera West
Stunts: Cliff Lyons, Frank McCarroll, Bud McClure, Tom Steele, Helen Thurston, Duke York (Stunt Coordinator)

Production Company: Universal Pictures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cast

 

Marlene Dietrich - Frenchy
James Stewart - Thomas Jefferson 'Tom' Destry Jr.
Mischa Auer - Boris Callahan
Charles Winninger - Washington 'Wash' Dimsdale
Brian Donlevy - Kent
Allen Jenkins - Gyp Watson
Warren Hymer - Bugs Watson
Irene Hervey - Janice Tyndall
Una Merkel - Lily Belle Callahan
Billy Gilbert - Loupgerou
Samuel S. Hinds - Judge Hiram J. Slade
Jack Carson - Jack Tyndall
Tom Fadden - Lem Claggett
Virginia Brissac - Ma Sophie Claggett
Edmund MacDonald - Rockwell (Credited as Edmund Macdonald)
Lillian Yarbo - Clara
Joe King - Sheriff Joseph Keogh
Dickie Jones - Eli Whitney Claggett
Ann E. Todd - Claggett Girl (Credited as Ann Todd)

Richard Alexander - Cowboy (uncredited)
C.E. Anderson - Townsman (uncredited)
Silver Tip Baker - Barfly (uncredited)
John Barton - Townsman (uncredited)
Chief John Big Tree - Indian in Saloon (uncredited)
Billy Bletcher - Pianist (uncredited)
Rudy Bowman - Townsman (uncredited)
Ed Brady - Barfly (uncredited)
Loren Brown - Juggler (uncredited)
Ralph Bucko - Barfly (uncredited)
Roy Bucko - Barfly (uncredited)
Bob Card - Barfly (uncredited)
George Chesebro - Barfly (uncredited)
Noble 'Kid' Chissell - Townsman (uncredited)
Dora Clement - Woman (uncredited)
Bill Cody Jr. - Townsboy Telling Wash of Destry's Arrival (uncredited)
Spade Cooley - Fiddle Player (uncredited)
Harry Cording - Creepy - Lends Tom Guns (uncredited)
Carmen D'Antonio - Dancer (uncredited)
Harold DeGarro - Juggler (uncredited)
Tex Driscoll - Barfly (uncredited)
Florence Dudley - Small Role (uncredited)
Ruth Eddings - Friend of Lilly Belle (uncredited)
O.K. Ford - Barfly (uncredited)
Sam Garrett - Rider / Roper (uncredited)
Slim Gaut - Townsman (uncredited)
William Gillis - Barfly (uncredited)
Jack Gordon - Barfly (uncredited)
Lloyd Ingraham - Express Agent with Box of Rabbits (uncredited)
Marjorie Kane - Saloon Floozie (uncredited)
Paul King - Waiter (uncredited)
Harley Luse - Accordion Player (uncredited)
Johnny Luther - Barfly (uncredited)
Cactus Mack - Musician (uncredited)
Kermit Maynard - Cowhand (uncredited)
Frank McCarroll - Barfly (uncredited)
Bud McClure - Stage Driver (uncredited)
Merrill McCormick - Townsman (uncredited)
Philo McCullough - Bartender (uncredited)
Robert McKenzie - Doctor (uncredited)
Robert Milasch - Townsman (uncredited)
Charles Murphy - Townsman (uncredited)
Tex Parker - Townsman (uncredited)
Carl Sepulveda - Greets Stage (uncredited)
Mary Shannon - Woman on Street (uncredited)
Rudy Sooter - Bass Player (uncredited)
Betta St. John - Singing Girl in Wagon (uncredited)
William Steele - Cowboy (uncredited)
Leo Sulky - Bartender (uncredited)
Al Taylor - Townsman (uncredited)
Harry Tenbrook - Stage Shotgun Rider (uncredited)
Jack Tornek - Barfly (uncredited)
Minerva Urecal - Mrs. DeWitt (uncredited)
Leslie Vincent - (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Hank West - Musician (uncredited)
Dan White - Barfly (uncredited)
Blackie Whiteford - Juror (uncredited)
Alex Woloshin - Assistant Bartender (uncredited)
Duke York - Townsman (uncredited) 

 

Plot

 

Deputy sheriff Tom Destry Jr., son of the formidable lawman Tom Destry, tames the town of Bottleneck using civility and intellect, and refuses to carry a gun.  

 

Review

 

A superior piece of writing, directing and acting from all concerned, this is a joy to watch from start to finish. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting Additional Information

 

Loved seeing singer/dancer Marjorie Kane as the saloon floozy in a featured comic moment. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mystery Ranch (1934)

Director: Bernard B. Ray
Writer: J.K. Henry (Story), Carl Krusada (Dialogue)

Continuity: Rose Gordon
Producer: Bernard B. Ray
Associate Producer: Harry S. Webb
Cinematographer: J. Henry Kruse
Sound: J.S. Westmoreland
Editor: Fred Bain
Assistant Director: B. Raymond
Music: Unknown
Stunts: Jim Corey, Jack Hendricks, Frank McCarroll

Production Company: Reliable Pictures Corporation

Cast

Tom Tyler - Robert Morris
Roberta Gale - Mary Henderson

Louise Cabo - Mrs. Henderson
Jack Perrin - George Andrews (Credited as Jack Gable)
Frank Hall Crane - Percy Jenkins (Credited as Frank Cane)
Charles King - Sam
Tom London - Blake
George Chesebro - Kern
Lafe McKee - Sheriff

Jimmy Aubrey - Pig Sty Pete / Jim Crocker (uncredited)
Jim Corey - Cowhand (uncredited)
John Elliott - Dad Morris (uncredited)
Lew Meehan - Bill (uncredited)
Robert Walker - Deputy (uncredited)

Plot

A writer of Western novels is invited to a ranch to sample the cowboy life for real, including set-ups of a lynching, a runaway, a chase after horse thieves and a fake feud. The writer isn't fooled by any of it until real robbers turn up.

Review

Watched this one a while ago and it was just poor. A very bad excuse for a movie. As usual Charles King is the best actor in it, but he is stifled by a bad plot, a bad script. and bad direction. And the good actor that is John Elliott could have been used to better effect. The highlight for me was seeing how bad Louise Cabo was. She was a former silent actress and she seemed to have been plucked off the street and asked to fill in because she didn't seem to know what to do. Was there any direction at all? I don't normally give films such a poor rating but what can I do.

Interesting Additional Information

Jimmy Aubrey was a legendary comic performer and originally worked in theatres with Fred Karno before becoming an understudy to Charlie Chaplin. He starred in his own silent comedy shorts starting in 1915. Aubrey worked with Oliver Hardy in a series of shorts starting in 1919 and later appeared in the Laurel and Hardy film That's My Wife in 1929. He retired from films in the mid 1950s, having appeared in over 470. This may not have been his finest moment, but it is always good to see him in anything.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title Screens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ghost Guns (1944)

 

Director: Lambert Hillyer
Writer: Bennett Cohen (Story), Frank H. Young (Screenplay)
Supervising Producer: Charles J. Bigelow
Cinematographer: Marcel Le Picard
Sound: Glen Glenn
Editor: Pierre Janet
Assistant Director: Theodore Joos

Set Decorator: Vin Taylor
Music: Edward J. Kay (Musical Director)
Stunts: Ralph Bucko, John Cason, Dee Cooper, Dick Dickinson, Chick Hannan
 
Additional Stunts and Trick Riding: Evelyn Finley

Production Company: Monogram Pictures

Cast

Johnny Mack Brown - Marshal Nevada Jack McKenzie
Raymond Hatton - Marshal Sandy Hopkins
Evelyn Finley - Ann Jordan
Riley Hill - Ted Connors
Ernie Adams - Doc Edwards
Sarah Padden - Aunt Sally
Jack Ingram - Waco - Henchman
Tom Quinn - Stringer - Henchman
Frank LaRue - Judge Kelbro
John Merton - Matson
Steve Clark - Steve
Marshall Reed - Blackjack - Henchman (Credited as Marshall J. Reed)
George Morrell - Station Agent
John Cason - Bart - Henchman (Credited as Bob Cason)

Ralph Bucko - Zeke - Stage Driver (uncredited)
Dee Cooper - Henchman (uncredited)
Dick Dickinson - Man Murdered in Saloon (uncredited)
Jack Evans - Townsman (uncredited)
Chick Hannan - Townsman (uncredited)
Ray Jones - Tex - Henchman (uncredited)
Dick Rush - Bartender (uncredited)

 

Plot

 

Two U.S. Marshals ride into a town undercover at the request of a woman whose father has been killed, to investigate his death. The town is run by a powerful bully and a crooked judge and the Marshals must get the evidence to convict them and their gang.

 

Review

 

A standard storyline with some good performances from a quality cast. Johnny Mack Brown is a believable force on the screen and there is a good turn from Raymond Hatton as his sidekick. There is nothing above average about the script or the ending so my score is still quite low.

 

Additional Interesting Information

 

Evelyn Finley was an expert trick rider appearing at many rodeos. She is given her moment for a couple of minutes at the end of the film where she performs various stunts and tricks with her horse.

 

Title Screens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marked Trails (1944)

 

Director: John P. McCarthy
Writer: John P. McCarthy (Original Story & Screenplay), Victor Hammond (Screenplay)
Supervising Producer: William Strohbach
Cinematographer: Harry Neumann
Sound: Glen Glenn
Editor: John C. Fuller
Assistant Director: Bobby Ray

Technical Director: E.R. Hickson
Music: Frank Sanucci (Musical Director)
Stunts: John Cason, Ben Corbett, Tex Palmer, Rex Rossi, Matty Roubert, Wally West

 

Production Company: Monogram Pictures

Cast

Hoot Gibson - Hoot Parkford
Bob Steele - Bob Stevens - posing as Cheyenne
Veda Ann Borg - Blanche - aka Mary Conway, aka Susanna
Ralph Lewis - Jed
Mauritz Hugo - Jim Slade
Charles Stevens - Denver - Henchman
Bud Osborne - Sheriff Jim
Lynton Brent - Tex - Henchman
George Morrell - Whippletree - Liveryman
Allen D. Sewall - Hank Bradley (Credited as Allen B. Sewall)

Silver Tip Baker - Jim - Stage Driver (uncredited)
John Cason - Chuck - Henchman (uncredited)
Steve Clark - U.S. Marshal Harry Stevens (uncredited)
Tommy Coats - Deputy (uncredited)
Ben Corbett - Henchman (uncredited)
Jack Evans - Townsman (uncredited)
Kansas Moehring - Blackie - Henchman (uncredited)
Bill Nestell - Townsman (uncredited)
Herman Nowlin - Barfly (uncredited)
Tex Palmer - Barfly (uncredited)
(Not) Rose Plumer - Rosie Bradley (uncredited)
Walter Shumway - Geologist (uncredited)
Dorothy Vernon - Lily Morgan (uncredited)

Unknown - Ma Stevens (uncredited)

Plot

Two lawmen posing as an outlaw and a community builder respectively, ride into town separately to try and find out who killed the uncle of one of them.

Review

The copy of the film I saw was quite dark and most of the action took place in the dark which made it difficult to watch. The plot was a little bit loose and seemed to be rushed towards the end. I didn't understand why a lawman posing as an outlaw would want to get into a fight with a card cheat just so that he could kill him to show his worth to the real bad guys. Didn't find much enjoyment in this one except for a couple of camera shots taken from the moving stagecoach over the shoulder of Silver Tip Baker. Quite impressive for a 1940s B-Western.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting Additional Information

After meeting with the Geologist in his hotel room, Blanche (pretending to be French-Canadian) says 'Bonjour, Monsiour', which is a greeting used for 'Hello', and leaves. I think this was an error rather than having any reason in the storyline.

It is assumed (on IMDB) that Rose Plumer plays the part of Rosie Bradley in this film, but if you compare this picture to one of Rose Plumer in other films you will see that they are quite different actresses. I have not identified the actress in this film yet

In these Westerns I find that the world is dominated by men. As such, there are not many women in prominent roles so it is fun to spot the women given extra parts. In this first shot we see Mauritz Hugo and Dorothy Vernon discussing the recent crimes and the young lady in the background is dressed in her fineries as though about to attend church.

 

 

 

 

 

In the same scene another more robust looking lady is standing next to the first.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This final shot shows the actress playing Bob Steele's mother. As with the mysterious 'Rosie', it is not known who she is, but she does have a line or two of dialogue at the beginning of the film and is featured again at the very end. Maybe you can identify her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So many unidentified actors in this film. The barman is another one. He has plenty to say.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The usual selection of barflies, which according to IMDB include stuntmen Herman Nowlin and Tex Palmer. I think Tex is standing nearest to the camera.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title Screens

Renegade Girl (1946)

 

Director: William Berke
Writer: Edwin V. Westrate (Original Screenplay)
Producer: William Berke

Associate Producer: Samuel K. Decker
Cinematographer: James S. Brown Jr.
Sound: Max M. Hutchinson
Editor: Arthur A. Brooks (Supervising Editor)
Assistant Director: Carl K. Hittleman
Music: Darrell Calker, David Chudnow (Musical Director)
Stunts: Art Dillard, Bud Geary, George Magrill, Kermit Maynard, Kansas Moehring, Post Park 

 

Ann Savage's Riding Double: Vivian Lopez

Production Company: Robert L. Lippert Productions

Cast

Ann Savage - Jean Shelby
Alan Curtis - Capt. Fred Raymond

Edward Brophy - Bob Crandall
Russell Wade - Jerry Long
Jack Holt - Maj. Barker
Claudia Drake - Mary Manson
Ray Corrigan - Bill Quantrill
John 'Dusty' King - Cpl. Brown (Credited as John King)
Chief Thundercloud - Chief White Cloud (Credited as Chief Thunder Cloud)
Edmund Cobb - Sgt. James
Dick Curtis - Joe Barnes (Credited as Richard Curtis)
Nick Thompson - Tom Starr
Harry Cording - Miller
Ernie Adams - Ted Rockley
Jimmy Martin - Bob Shelby (Credited as James Martin)

Art Dillard - Union Soldier (uncredited)
Bud Geary - Union Soldier (uncredited)
Herman Hack - Mr. Shelby (uncredited)
George Magrill - Guard (uncredited)
Kermit Maynard - Sgt. Dale (uncredited)
Kansas Moehring - Raider (uncredited)
Post Park - Union Soldier (uncredited)
Forrest Taylor - Dr. Manson (uncredited)

Plot

An embittered, Union-hating woman around the time of the American Civil War seeks revenge on the Indian who killed her family.

Review

A 'B-Western' with a fairly standard story of revenge from an outlaw woman who seems to never find any joy in life until an unexpected romance comes along. The plot lacks back story as to why she and her family are hunted by the Indian chief. The Union also want to find an outlaw gang of which the woman and her brother are associated. It all seems a bit wishy washy with bits stuck together, but is still moderately enjoyable yo watch. Ann Savage is her usual grumpy, 'chip-on-her-shoulder' self, the kind of character we saw in one of her more famous films, 'Detour' in 1945. A high point for me was seeing Edward Brophy as a renegade with a heart.

Interesting Additional Information

Some of the scenes were filmed on actor Ray Corrigan's ranch in Simi Valley, California.

 

Jimmy Martin, seen here on horseback playing the injured 'Bob Shelby', was a country singer who fronted the Blue Grass Boys from 1949 to 1954. He later led his own group called The Sunny Mountain Boys. He appeared at The Grand Ole Opry and also sang with country legend Bill Monroe.

In films he often played small roles in westerns like this one.

The actress playing the part of Mrs. Shelby is unidentified so far. This is the best shot I have of her with Herman Hack and John 'Dusty' King. She is given two or three lines of dialogue in this scene.

The character played by Ray Corrigan, William Quantrill, was based on a real-life person who led a resistance army against the Union soldiers. He was shot in the chest in May 1865 in Kentucky by Union soldiers and died of his wounds on June 6, 1865 at the age of 27. There is more information on Wikipedia.

In this film he is only featured once and nothing of great historical interest is revealed other than it is mentioned that he has been killed later in the film. After all, this is about Ann Savage's character and her turmoil.

Remake or Not? That Is The Question

 

The Internet Movie Database states that this is a remake of the 1928 film 'Court-Martial', starring Betty Compson as Belle Starr. Although there are a few similarities, I don't see this as a direct remake and nowhere are any of the original writers credited for this storyline. The film's screenplay is credited to Edwin V. Westrate as being original. It does, however, follow a formula that has been used many times before and since and has been around since the time of Shakespeare.

Goofs

Ann Savage almost speaks her line too early in a scene with Alan Curtis about 20 minutes into the film, but the moment is kept in because Savage's character is exhausted and it doesn't detract too much from the film.

 

Although this is not a goof, the sound used for the final Indian raid scene was about 4-5 seconds long and on a loop. Once you've heard it for the fifth time it gets a bit annoying. I know that sound mixing wasn't up to much in these cheap westerns but I believe there could have been more effort made for this bit.

Title Screens