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