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

Aces and Eights (1936)

Director: Sam Newfield

Writer: George Arthur Durlam (Story), Joseph O'Donnell (Screenplay)
Producer: Sigmund Neufeld, Leslie Simmonds
Cinematographer:Jack Greenhalgh
Sound: Hans Weeren
Editor: John English
Assistant Director: William A. O'Connor
Music: Peter Brunelli
Stunts: Barney Beasley, Art Dillard, Bert Dillard, Carl Mathews, Artie Ortego, Wally West

Cast

Tim McCoy - 'Gentleman' Tim Madigan
Luana Walters - Juanita Hernandez
Rex Lease - Jose Hernandez
Wheeler Oakman - Ace Morgan
J. Frank Glendon - Amos Harden (Credited as Frank Glendon)
Charles Stevens - Captain Felipe de Lopez
Earle Hodgins - Marshal (Credited as Earl Hodgins)
Jimmy Aubrey - Lucky
Joseph W. Girard - Don Julio Hernandez (Credited as Joseph Girard)

Barney Beasley - Barfly (uncredited)
Frank Ellis - Deputy (uncredited)
Jack Evans - Barfly (uncredited)
Oscar Gahan - Gambler (uncredited)
Karl Hackett - Wild Bill Hickok / Prologue Narrator (uncredited)
Jack Kirk - Gambler (uncredited)
Clyde McClary - Saloon Swamper (uncredited)
John Merton - Card Sharp (uncredited)
Milburn Morante - Patrolman (uncredited)
Artie Ortego - Patrolman (uncredited)
Fred Parker - Bartender (uncredited)
Tom Smith - Spectator (uncredited)
Robert Walker - Croupier (uncredited)

Plot

An ace card player comes to the aid of a Mexican village.

Review

Not seen.

Borrowed Trouble (1948)

Director: George Archainbaud
Writer: Charles Belden (Original Screenplay) Clarence E. Mulford (Characters Created by)
Producer: Lewis J. Rachmil
Cinematographer: Mack Stengler
Sound: Waldon Tom Lambert
Editor: unknown
Assistant Director: William D. Faralla
Art Director: Jerome Pycha Jr.
Music: Darrell Calker
Stunts: George Sowards

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cast

William Boyd - Hopalong Cassidy
Andy Clyde - California Carlson
Rand Brooks - Lucky Jenkins
Anne O'Neal - Lucy Abott
John Parrish - Steve Mawson
Cliff Clark - Dink Davis
Helen Chapman - Lola Blair
Earle Hodgins - Sheriff
Herbert Rawlinson - Groves

Don Haggerty - Lippy

James Harrison - Rocks
Clarke Stevens - Henchman
George Sowards - Henchman
Eilene Janssen - Child
Nancy Stone - Child
Jimmy Crane - Child
Billy O'Leary - Child
Norman Ollestad - Child (Credited as Norman Ollestad Jr.)

Byron Foulger - Mike the Bartender (uncredited)
Herman Hack - Barfly (uncredited)
Al Thompson - Barfly (uncredited)
Jack Tornek - Barfly (uncredited)

Plot

Hopalong Cassidy completes some business in a small town and stumbles across a feud between a schoolteacher and saloon owner.

Review

*SPOILERS* Borrowed Trouble is the usual simple storyline found in most of these 'Hopalong Cassidy' films. Running at a little under 60 minutes it was the kind of film that would be made into a televsion series a few years later. Mixing light-hearted behaviour from 'Cassidy', some humour from 'California Carlson' and some subtle romance from 'Lucky' this was the formula for many films like this aimed at a family audience.

I found some parts of this film quite disturbing. Firstly, there was the casual mention of 'Indians' perhaps not wanting their land back after the 'white man' has abused it so much. Then later in the storyline Cassidy is forced to enter the school after the teacher goes missing. He asks the children what they want to be. One child is identified as the son of one of the saloon owners. Cassidy casually pats him on the head after he says he wants to be like his dad and run a saloon. At the end of the film the child's father is deemed to be the bad guy and although his crimes are not particularly nasty he holds a group of people to ransom with his gun as he makes his escape. If he had escaped he would have gone back to his saloon. The teacher throws an apple at him causing his gun to go off and miss everybody. Then Cassidy decides to shoot him three times until he is dead. A joke is made about the sheriff also being the undertaker. The end. No mention of the boy losing his father or the fact that Cassidy unneccesarily shot someone who's gun was set off by the misguided actions of a schoolteacher. Weird. Probably had to fit a timeslot as a second feature and so they ended the story quickly with loose ends exposed.

Considering the type of film it is supposed to be, am I analysing it too much?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting Additional Information

This was No. 64 out of 66 'Hoplalong Cassidy' films. I think television was ready to take over this kind of series. In fact William Boyd made two seasons of the 'Hopalong Cassidy' television show from 1952 to 1954.

 

Eilene Janssen who played one of the school children was crowned 'Little Miss America' in 1944. She had already appeared in over 20 films by the time she did this one. Her father worked for Universal Studios as a sound mixer.

The young children in school make the film worth watching. Several of them have speaking parts.

Title Screens

1948 Westerns

1948

Borrowed Trouble