OUTLAW WOMEN

Richard Avonde and Marie Windsor

OUTLAW WOMEN (1952). Directors: Sam Newfield; Ron Ormond. In Cinecolor.

"Six-gun sirens that shoot to thrill!"

Dr. Bob (Allan Nixon) is shanghaied to the town of Las Mujeres, which is run by women, particularly the tough and feisty "Iron" Mae McLeod (Marie Windsor), owner of the Paradise saloon and casino. The bartender has succumbed to pneumonia before he can arrive, but Bob sticks around on account of pretty Beth Larabee (Carla Balenda), although her prettier sister Ellen (Jacqueline Fontaine) also makes a play for him. Others in Las Mujeres include crook Frank Slater (Richard Avonde) and the mysterious Woody (Richard Rober), who is almost always in the company of Peyote Bill (Jackie Coogan). Mae finds herself beset on all sides by men who want to "deal" with her: Woody wants to take over the Paradise and make her a mere employee and Frank wants to rob the bank -- where most of Mae's money is. But she may have a plan to outwit them all ...

"cat-fight!"

Outlaw Women is a fun, morally-ambiguous western with some colorful action -- including a nifty "cat fight" -- and performances. Despite the fact that she isn't exactly on the side of the angels, you may find yourself rooting for Mae, who had to take over because the chauvinistic men in her life wouldn't exactly play fair. Windsor is as snappy as ever, and the other women, especially Fontaine (introduced in this picture although she'd appeared previously in The Daltons' Women and others) are fine. Most of the male actors were generally limited to "B"s or TV shows, no harm in that. Lyle Talbot, Billy House [Naked Gun], and Tom Tyler are also in the cast and the Four Dandies sing a peppy version of "San Francisco Bay." From Lippert Pictures. 

Verdict: Scrappy Windsor is always fun to watch. ***.

MASK OF THE DRAGON

Sheila Ryan and Richard Travis

MASK OF THE DRAGON (1951). Director: Sam Newfield.

In Korea Lt. Dan Oliver (Richard Emory) is asked to take a package containing a Jade dragon back to the United States. He has barely arrived when he is murdered and his luggage searched. Oliver's partner, Phil Ramsey (Richard Travis), investigates his murder along with Ramsey's gal pal, Ginny (Sheila Ryan). Ginny isn't thrilled when Phil shows an interest in blonde singer Terry Newell (Dee Tatum), who appears on an L.A. TV show and was in love with Oliver. While Phil kibbitzes with Lt. McLaughlin (Lyle Talbot), sinister art dealer Kim Ho (Jack Reitzen) and his associates Murphy (Sid Melton), Kingpin (Karl Davis) and Simo (Charles Iwamoto, billed as Mr. Moto) try to find the Jade dragon and beat up or dispose of anyone who gets in their way. Major Clinton (Michael Whelan) is convinced that Oliver was up to some funny business, a notion that infuriates Phil.

Curt Barrett and the Trailsmen

Mask of the Dragon was undoubtedly made back to back with Travis' earlier film Fingerprints Don't Lie, as it has the same director, writer, stars and virtually the same cast in both pictures. It is an even worse movie, however. At one point the action stops dead so that we can be treated to the song stylings of Curt Barrett and the Trailsmen, who aren't terrible but do little to add to the intrigue. Mask of the Dragon seems cobbled together from outtakes, with a script hastily scribbled on toilet paper to make use of the footage and the cowboy singers used to pad out the running time. Like other mystery films Travis starred or co-starred in, Dragon was cut down to half an hour and shown on television as part of a mystery series. Dudley Chambers' organ score is another minus. The actors do the best they can. 

Verdict: Even singing cowboys can't save this. *1/2.  

FINGERPRINTS DON'T LIE

Richard Travis and Sheila Ryan

FINGERPRINTS DON'T LIE (1951). Director: Sam Newfield. 

At the murder trial of artist Paul Moody (Richard Emory), fingerprint expert James Stover (Richard Travis of Missile to the Moon) must give damning testimony. The theory of the prosecuting attorney (Tom Neal of Jungle Girl) is that Moody, angered because Mayor Palmer (Ferris Taylor) turned down his mural proposal because he objected to Moody's dating his daughter, Carolyn (Sheila Ryan of Railroaded), bashed Palmer on the head with a telephone, killing him. James points out Moody's fingerprints on the murder weapon, and it all seems cut and dried. But Carolyn insists that her boyfriend is innocent, and that there must be some other explanation for the fingerprints. Knowing that a man's life is at stake, James investigates with Carolyn's assistance. 

Defendant: Richard Emory

The premise of this film is that fingerprints can be duplicated -- in other words, faked -- which can be done, although it's rare. Suspects for this devious activity include Police Commissioner Frank Kelso (Michael Whalen), gangster King Sullivan (George Eldredge), gun moll Connie Duval (Dee Tatum), even Lt. Grayson (Lyle Talbot). Also in the cast are Margia Dean and Syra Marty as artist's models. Travis is okay in the lead and the supporting performances, especially Eldredge, are more than adequate, but the movie is minor-league. Sid Melton is genuinely amusing, for a change, as the hapless photographer, Hypo Dorton. An in-joke has him checking out a wanted poster that has his real name on it.  Dudley Chambers' lousy score consists of terrible chorale writing and organ music. 

Verdict: Despite some intriguing elements this is mostly a time-waster. **1/4.