ROAR OF THE IRON HORSE - Rail-Blazer of the Apache Trail

Jock Mahoney and Rick Vallin

ROAR OF THE IRON HORSE - Rail-Blazer of the Apache Trail (15-chapter Columbia serial/1951). Directors: Spencer Gordon Bennet; Thomas Carr. Colorized.

In 1867 there are forces who are opposing the building of a transcontinental railroad. On one side is railroad agent (and secret Deputy  Marshall) Jim Grant (Jock Mahoney) and his allies -- including crusty old Rocky (William Fawcett) and brother and sister Carol and Tom Lane (Virginia Herrick and Harold Landon) -- and on the other side is a man called the Baron (George Eldredge), and his allies, including Homer Lathrop (Jack Ingram), who runs the railroad but is working against it, and the nasty Scully (Rusty Westcoatt). The baron also has many Indians on his side, with the exception of White Eagle (Rick Vallin). 

Mahoney visits with a U.S. Marshall (uncredited)

Throughout the serial's fifteen chapters Jim and his allies are nearly burned at the stake, trapped in a box canyon with explosives being lobbed at them; caught in a variety of gun battles; and Carol nearly goes over a cliff in a runaway wagon. Mahoney -- billed as Jock O'Mahoney -- handles all of this with aplomb, and the rest of the cast, including Fawcett and Myron Healey as Ace, provide good support. A rousing musical score by John Leipold helps a lot. 

Verdict: If you like western cliffhanger serials, this one is a good bet. ***. 

MYSTERY MOUNTAIN

Ken Maynard

MYSTERY MOUNTAIN (12 chapter Mascot serial/1934). Directors: Otto Brower; B. Reeves Eason. 

After her father's death Jane Corwin (Verna Hillie) wants to keep her transportation company going despite the competition from a new railroad that wants to tunnel through the nearby mountain. When a mysterious figure called the Rattler -- who wears a black cloak and glasses with a fake nose and mustache attached! -- begins acts of sabotage against the railroad, supervisor Frank Blayden (Edward Earle of Heartaches) blames Jane. Railroad detective Ken Williams (Ken Maynard) is called in to find out who the Rattler really is, and there are several suspects. The Rattler uses poison darts and other weapons against his enemies and to confound and confuse them puts on realistic masks of various people involved in the story. But can Ken ever unmask the Rattler?

The Rattler sneaks up on Breezy

Mystery Mountain is a fun if minor serial from Mascot, which almost always seems to have the villain using masks of his enemies and associates to cause dissension among the others. (A notion later stolen for the Tom Cruise Mission: Impossible movies.) Maynard, best-known as a big cowboy star (who was reportedly a real son of a bitch in real life), is more than competent as the hero, and Verna Hillie is both attractive and credible as the heroine. There is way too much of Syd Saylor as reporter and comedy relief Breezy Baker, who is as much screw-up as helpmate to Williams. Mystery Mountain can be both exciting and suspenseful, but it cries out for much more music. Another cast member is Ken Maynard's amazing horse Tarzan, who seems to be as smart as Roy Rogers' Trigger. B. Reeves Eason also directed Spy Ship. 

Verdict: Entertaining Mascot serial with good players. ***. 

TOO MUCH BEEF

Rex Bell

TOO MUCH BEEF (1936). Director: Robert F. Hill.

Rocky Brown (Forrest Taylor) owns the Wagon Wheels ranch and lives with his sister, Ruth (Constance Bergen). He realizes that steers which aren't part of his herd are being branded and placed with his own cattle. As Rocky was once falsely jailed for rustling, he is anxious to get to the bottom of this. To that end comes Johnny Argyle (Rex Bell) calling himself "Tucson Smith" as he investigates. Johnny romances Ruth as he interviews Rocky's gal pal Sheila (Marjorie O'Connell), drunk Tracy Paine (George Ball), Rocky's foreman Shorty (Jimmy Aubrey), railroad man George Thompson (John Cowell), and others. When a fellow named Dynamite (Lloyd Ingraham) is murdered, Rocky is framed for it -- Johnny goes into action and saves the day!

Constance Bergen and Forrest Taylor

In his day Rex Bell was a big western movie star, but he was probably more famous for being the husband of "It" girl Clara Bow. He is good-looking, with some charm, and a bare minimum of acting ability, at least in this very standard oater. The other cast members are a little more impressive, but the direction for this is slow, and except for one fist fight and some gun shots in the climactic courtroom scene, this is not too memorable a picture. Bell appeared in forty-three films, wrapping up his career with an uncredited bit in The Misfits in 1961. He and Bow were married for over thirty years until his death, which occurred when he was running for governor of Nevada. Forrest Taylor appeared in several serials, including the wonderful Manhunt of Mystery Island.     

Verdict: Rex is appealing in his way but the movie doesn't amount to much. *1/2. 

SUNSET SERENADE

Roy Rogers listens as Gabby Hayes sings

SUNSET SERENADE (1942). Director: Joseph Kane.

Although Vera Martin (Joan Woodbury) thought she was going to inherit a ranch from the deceased owner, it actually goes to his nephew, a one-year-old baby in the care of Sylvia Clark (Helen Parrish of X Marks the Spot). Sylvia doesn't know that Vera and her friend, Jackson (Onslow Stevens), are scheming to get the ranch away from her for a song. Wouldn't you know that Roy Rogers, Gabby Hayes, Bob Nolan (of Heldorado) and his Sons of the Pioneers ((including Pat Brady) are in the vicinity, out of work cowboys who are practically starving. In exchange for vittles, most of which are "et" by Gabby, Roy and his buddies help out Sylvia. Later on they have a shoot-out with Jackson's gang when he tries to steal cattle that Sylvia just sold to Clifford Sheldon (Frank M. Thomas) and Roy saves the man from a rushing river when a dam is exploded. There are also some forgettable songs sung by Roy, Bob, Pat and even annoying Gabby. Trigger doesn't have much to do in this one. Roy Barcroft of G-Men Never Forget plays one of the gang of bad guys. A "modern" western from Republic studios. 

Verdict: Acceptable but mediocre Roy Rogers entry. **. 

UNDER CALIFORNIAN STARS

Roy Rogers 

UNDER CALIFORNIAN  STARS (1948). Director: William Witney. 

Roy Rogers is celebrating his tenth year in pictures and goes home to his ranch for a special radio broadcast. There he learns that his employee, Cookie (Andy Devine), has hired another of his relatives, Caroline (Jane Frazee) but at least this one is pretty. Roy also befriends a little lame boy, Ted (Michael Chapin), whose evil stepfather Lige (Wade Crosby), helps his employer, Pop (George Lloyd), kidnap Trigger for ransom. Ted doesn't tell Roy all that he knows for fear of reprisal, but helps save the day in the end. 

Rogers with Jane Frazee

This is an amiable Roy Rogers Western that benefits greatly from pleasing players and from a a score cobbled together from various sources and composers. Jane Frazee is appealing but perhaps not quite distinctive enough. Michael Chapin also went on to have a number of credits, mostly on television. The lovable Andy Devine gets a few laughs in this, and Trigger -- the only one billed above the title aside from Roy -- goes through his dramatic paces as well. Of course there are the Sons of the Pioneers and a few catchy songs, the best of which are "Dust" and the title tune.  

Verdict: Songs and sentiment plus the thrashing hooves of Trigger! **3/4. 

HELDORADO

A disheveled Roy Rogers after a fist fight 

HELDORADO (1946). Director: William Witney.

In this "modern" western, Nevada State Ranger Roy Rogers (Roy Rogers) nearly arrests Gabby Hayes (also playing himself) for putting up posters for the annual Las Vegas celebration and defacing government property. (Although the posters for the event all through the movie read "Helldorado" with two "l"s, the movie's title has only one "l" -- go figure!) Roy "meets cute" with heiress Carol Randall (Dale Evans), who is dating Alec Baxter (Brad Dexter) without knowing he's a crook helping to pass phony cash in the casinos. Carol has not only been made Queen of Helldorado -- or Heldorado -- but also an honorary deputy sheriff, and she annoys Roy by taking her duties too seriously, trying to find out who murdered Alec when his body is found with bullets in it. Which of them will get to the killer or killers first? And how many songs will Roy sing with or without the Sons of the Pioneers?

Brad Dexter as playboy Alec

Heldorado is certainly not an awful movie but I wish it had been more entertaining. Even serial specialist William Witney, who certainly knew how to pace a movie, can't do much with mediocre and over-familiar material. Like Rogers' voice, the songs are perfectly pleasant, although the title tune sounds as if it were ripped off from somewhere else. The best performance is probably from Brad Dexter as the amiable mountebank Alec. Paul Harvey (of Unmasked) is also effective as the deceptively friendly Driscoll, a bad guy who locks Dale in a refrigerator at one point. The Sons of the Pioneers, with Bob Nolan and Pat Brady, are along for the ride and sing as well. There's also a treasure hunt that doesn't have much to do with the rest of the story, but seems to function as padding.

Verdict: Nothing's too terrible if Roy Rogers is in it! **1/4. 

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. ***.

ARIZONA TERRITORY

Whip Wilson

ARIZONA TERRITORY (1950). Director: Wallace Fox. 

Prospector Jeff Molloy (Whip Wilson) comes across a pretty gal, Doris (Nancy Saunders), in a runaway wagon and rescues her. Along with her ex-con Uncle Otis (John Merton of Radar Patrol vs Spy King), Doris runs a trading post in the wild territory of Arizona. Suspecting Otis of going back to his old ways of counterfeiting, Jeff teams up with an undercover U.S., Marshall named Luke Watson (Andy Clyde). Another player in this undistinguished oater is Greg Lance (Dennis Moore) who wants to marry Nancy but is secretly in cahoots with her uncle. Meanwhile Jeff is hoping that Nancy is on the up and up. 

Dennis Moore

Although he made a couple more films than Lash Larue, Monogram's Whip Wilson was probably the least of the western cowboy stars and isn't much remembered today. His comic book for Atlas/Marvel only lasted three issues. This is one of the very few films in which he didn't play himself, but it scarcely makes a difference. Handy with a whip, Wilson proves to be an amiable if minor-league screen presence, although he handles the dialogue and action scenes professionally enough. Veteran character actor Andy Clyde, who supported Whip in several films, was 58 but looked quite a bit older. There was a forty-year gap in the acting career of Nancy Saunders, who stopped acting in the late fifties and took it up again in the nineties! Dennis Moore of The Purple Monster Strikes -- he had 264 other credits! -- gives the best performance. 

Verdict: Nothing special in this B western, but it's always nice to see Moore! **. 

GUNSLINGER

Beverly Garland, Jonathan Haze, Allison Hayes

GUNSLINGER (1956). Produced and directed by Roger Corman.

"Sometimes I like awake two or three seconds worrying about it." -- Erica.

1878: Marshal Scott Hood (William Schallert) of Oracle Texas is shot dead in his office right in front of his horrified wife, Rose (Beverly Garland). She immediately shoots and kills one of two assassins and catches up with the other one at her husband's funeral, shooting him dead, too, as he stands hypocritically at the gravesite -- a great scene. 

Beverly Garland and John Ireland

Rose then decides to make herself the marshal of Oracle until a real marshal can show up in two weeks. In those weeks the feisty widow cleans up the town and wages war with Erica Page (Allison Hayes), who owns the Red Dog saloon. Rose insists that Erica keeps regular hours and that the trampy dancing girls leave town (they later attack Rose en masse). Erica and Rose have a zesty cat fight which the latter wins, leading to the former calling for a gunslinger named Cane Miro (John Ireland). Cane is paid $3000 to off the law in town -- Rose -- only Cane finds himself falling for the lady and vice versa. Meanwhile Erica, manipulating things behind the scenes, has bet virtually everything she owns hoping that the railroad will run through Oracle. Will Cane ultimately side with Rose or Erica?

Ireland romances the 50 Foot Woman

There are two obvious influences on Corman's Gunslinger. The first is Johnny Guitar, which came out two years earlier and also featured two women, Joan Crawford and Mercedes McCambridge in this case, in a power struggle (both on and off the set). Then there's Duel in the Sun, made about ten years earlier, in which lovers Jennifer Jones and Gregory Peck have a climactic gun battle -- Gunslinger's climax is basically a steal from that. But that doesn't detract from the fact that Gunslinger is a well-made, well-acted and entertaining picture that is better than its reputation (trashed largely because it was featured on that silly Mystery Science Theater).

Ireland confers with Hayes in front of Haze

Corman's fast-paced direction is a plus, as is the cast. John Ireland successfully keeps you guessing as to his true character and motivations, while Hayes, the 50 foot woman herself, gives possibly her best performance in her hard-as-nails portrayal of Erica. Beverly Garland, always a superior actress who deserved better than a career in B movies, is excellent as Rose, although one flaw in her performance is that she never seems to be grieving for her beloved husband -- but then she's kept pretty busy. Jonathan Haze of The Little Shop of Horrors scores as Jake, the bartender who is in love with Erica and kills poor portly Zebelon Tabb (Bruno VeSota) at her direction. Martin Kingsley doesn't make much of an impression as Mayor Polk, who is hated by Cane, but Margaret Campbell is much better as his wife. Chris Alcaide is Deputy Joshua, and Dick Miller shows up briefly as a postal man who gets shot by the sociopathic Erica. Ronald Stein contributes a quirky and effective score. 

Verdict: With a little more work this under-rated western could have been a real contender. ***. 

OLD OVERLAND TRAIL

One spiffy cowboy: Rex Allen 

OLD OVERLAND TRAIL (1953). Director: William Witney. 

Cowboy Rex Allen (Rex Allen) finds himself caught in a war between Indians, led by Black Hawk (Leonard Nimoy), and a pack of immigrants who travelled a long distance to settle in the area, Pouring fuel on the fire is slimy John Anchor (Roy Barcroft), who does his best to take advantage of everyone that he can, Indians and settlers alike. Rex' brother, Jim (Gil Herman), is Anchor's partner, and Rex and Jim come to blows when the former realizes that the latter is going along with Anchor's schemes. Then Jim is found dead, and Anchor sends Black Mask and his scouts out to bring back Rex -- as his brother's murderer!

Rex battles a pre-Star Trek Leonard Nimoy

Rex Allen was another handsome Republic Studios cowboy star -- along with Roy Rogers, Allan Lane, Monte Hale and others -- and he was at the time quite popular, and also had his own comic book series for several years. Attractive, competent and personable, Allen didn't quite have the charisma of Rogers, at least in this flick, but he could punch out the bad guys with the best of them. Slim Pickens, also playing himself, was Allen's comical partner in this and many other movies, and Allen had his own "not-so-wondrous" wonder horse in Koko. Gil Herman was another handsome dude who distinguished himself during WW2 service, while Virginia Hall (as Jim's gal pal, Mary) appeared only in this one western and had a few other minor credits.

Gil Herman, Rex Allen, Roy Barcroft

Rex Allen started out as a singer and had a rich baritone voice that reminds one a bit of Bing Crosby. In Old Overland Trail he gives splendid renditions of "Just a Wandrin' Buckeroo," "Cowboy's Dream of Heaven," and others. Rex is backed up by the Republic Rhythm Riders singing group. Directed by serial specialist William Witney, Old Overland Trail has plenty of exciting fisticuffs along with a sequence when Indians circle and attack a wagon train. The two brothers also have a rousing battle. Serial star Marshall Reed appears briefly as a sergeant. Reed and Barcroft both appeared in The James Brothers of Missouri. 

Verdict: With plenty of songs and punches, this is a good example of why Rex Allen became so popular. **3/4. 

THE DALTONS' WOMEN

Lash La Rue

THE DALTON'S WOMEN (1950). Director: Thomas Carr.

In the town of Navaho, members of the Dalton gang have seemingly become respectable citizens with new identities. However, they are up to their old tricks of holding up stagecoaches and robbing banks. Into town comes a man that everyone assumes is one of the Daltons, but "Mike Leonard" -- actually Clint Dalton (Jack Holt) -- knows better. He hires this stranger as a dealer in his saloon, suspecting that he's actually the law. Yes, indeed, the stranger is U.S. Marshall Lash La Rue (Lash La Rue), and he and Pinkerton agent Joan Talbot (Pamela Blake) set out to expose and round up the gang with the help of Lash's grizzled old pal Fuzzy Jones (Al St. John).

burlesque in the wild west?

Lash La Rue was a cowboy star who appeared in a great many low-budget productions for poverty row studio, PRC. In spite of this he gained a large following and had his own comic book that lasted until 1960. Although some have noted a resemblance to Humphrey Bogart, La Rue was actually handsomer than Bogie, although his acting range was much more limited. Playing himself in his movies, La Rue always dressed in black and carried a whip which he eventually learned to wield with a certain expertise; he also did his own stunts, which fitted neatly into PRC's budgetary plans. La Rue occasionally had small roles in films for other studios.

Catfight! June Benbow vs. Jacqueline Fontaine

The Dalton's Women throws in everything but the kitchen sink. There are sexy show girls strutting their stuff and doing the can can; a juggler whose act is interrupted by a shooting party; and a songstress named Jacqueline Fontaine (played by Jacqueline Fontaine, who was introduced in this picture). Fontaine delivers two numbers, including the catchy "The Right Kind of Man," in a husky and sensual voice; she knows how to deliver a song. The best scene in the movie has Fontaine involved in a wild, protracted catfight with saloon gal, May (June Benbow) over a character named Honest Hank (Archie Twitchell), who otherwise doesn't really figure in the plot. The catfight, with the two women pulling hair and nearly tearing the clothing off of each other, is one of the longest female-female fight scenes I've seen in any movie!

Tom Neal, Lyle Talbot, J. Farrell MacDoanld

Others in the cast include the ubiquitous Lyle Talbot as an honest businessman, Tom Neal [Jungle Girl] as the dishonest Mayor, J. Farrell MacDonald as the representative of the stagecoach company, Stanley Price [The Invisible Monster] as bad guy Manson, and Tom Tyler [Adventures of Captain Marvel] as Emmett Dalton. Thomas Carr also co-directed the serial Jesse James Rides Again. This really was the first movie for Jacqueline Fontaine, who had thirteen successive credits in B movies like Outlaw Women, A productions such as The Country Girl, and assorted television programs. A "Western Adventure" Production. 

Verdict: If you've always wanted to see a Lash La Rue picture, this is the one to go for. Dig that zesty catfight! **1/2. 

SUNSET CARSON RIDES AGAIN

Sunset Carson and Pat Starling

SUNSET CARSON RIDES AGAIN (1948). Director: Oliver Drake.

Sunset Carson, playing himself, hopes to raise money for a school in the area, and comes upon the idea of holding a boxing match. His sinister employee, Sam (John Cason), who plans to kill Sunset and take off with the proceeds, will fight a professional, but when this man is injured someone else has to take his place. A newcomer named the Kansas Kid (Al Terry) is chosen to fight Sam. Sam knows something that Sunset doesn't: the Kansas Kid is actually Bob Ward, who thinks that Sunset murdered his father. Also at stake is Sunset's wonder horse Comanche, who will go to the winner of the boxing match. 

Al Terry with Pat Starling

Sunset Carson did a series of westerns for Republic studios before he was fired for alleged malfeasances. Sunset Carson Rides Again was done by the bargain basement Yucca Pictures. Carson was 6 ft 6 and nice-looking but he lacks the charm and acting skill -- if that's the word -- of Roy Rogers. Sunset doesn't sing, but Al Terry reveals a very nice voice, as does Pat Starling playing Sunset's sister, Joan, when they do a duet of "Paradise Trail." Despite being in CineColor, there isn't much to recommended in this ultra-cheap western, although it's relatively fast-paced and has some minor action sequences. However, expert fiddler Buddy McDowell of the Rodeo Revelers can imitate birds with his strings! Carson played the same character, himself, in two more pictures and then rode into the sunset until he was resuscitated for a flick called Alien Outlaw in 1985. 

Verdict: Oddly pleasant but utterly mediocre low-budget western. **. 

NAKED GUN (1956)

NAKED GUN (1956). Director: Eddie Dew. 

Insurance agent Breen Matthews (Willard Parker) comes into the wild west town of Topaz with a chest of treasure from the late members of the Salazar family. The town is essentially run by the hanging Judge Cole (Billy House) and saloon owner Joe Barnum (Barton MacLane). Barnum sells his bar to unsuspecting newcomers, who are then hung on trumped up charges by Cole, after which Barnum reclaims his bar and keeps the money from the sale. The latest sap is Sonny Glenn (Tom Brown), who has a reputation as a card shark which may or may not be deserved. His main squeeze is the hard-boiled Susan (Veda Ann Borg), and into Topaz comes another female, Louisa (Mara Corday), who is the niece of Sheriff Jackson (Morris Ankrum) and hopes to sing in the saloon. Then the treasure chest is stolen, a certain party is hung, and anyone participating in such a foul deed winds up stabbed to death as Naked Gun turns into a western slasher!

Mara Corday has at Veda Ann Borg

One of the most notable things about Naked Gun is that it has an absolutely incredible B movie cast. Veda Ann Borg of The Shadow, Morris Ankrum of Earth vs the Flying Saucers, Mara Corday of Tarantula, Tom Brown of The Adventures of Smilin' Jack, Chick Chandler of Soldiers of Fortune and The Lost Continent, Rick Vallin of Batman and Robin and Barton MacLane of Unknown Island. Willard Parker was Rosalind Russell's leading man in What a Woman and also starred in The Earth Dies Screaming and he's fine as the laconic hero in this. The whole thing has a TV show-type feel and is directed with little inspiration, but the actors are game enough and there's a zesty, if too brief, cat-fight between Corday and Borg at the halfway point. Billy House makes an unusual hanging judge and isn't quite satisfactory in the role, but Timothy Carey as a gunman is as quirky, twitchy  and charismatic as ever. 

Verdict: Surprising just how entertaining this B western really is. ***. 

THE JAMES BROTHERS OF MISSOURI

Robert Bice and Keith Richards as Frank and Jesse James

THE JAMES BROTHERS OF MISSOURI (12 chapter Republic serial/1949. Director: Fred C. Brannon. 

Frank and Jesse James (Robert Bice of Captive Women and Keith Richards) only want to forget their past, go straight, and live their lives in peace. They are befriended by Lon Royer (John Hamitlon), a former member of the James Gang, and his daughter, Peg (Noel Neill), who are running a freight business in the town of Rimrock. Unfortunately, Ace Marlin (Roy Barcroft of Manhunt of Mystery Island), who is running a rival business, wants to obliterate the competition and murders Lon. Marlin's silent partner, who pretends to befriend the grieving Peg, is Belle Calhoun (Patricia Knox), who owns the general store. Frank and Jesse, masquerading as Peg's cousins, John Howard and Carroll, do everything they can to help Peg and her business, and counteract the increasingly violent and sinister actions of Marlin. 

Roy Barcroft and Patricia Knox

The James Brothers of Missouri is the third and last of the three Jesse James serials produced by Republic Pictures. Clayton Moore was Jesse in the first two serials, and while Richards is fine as Jesse James, Moore is still missed. Neill appeared in the previous serial, The Adventures of Frank and Jesse James, but she plays a different character this time. This is also true of Roy Barcroft, who is very adept in his villainy. Patricia Knox is also quite credible as a woman who seems to have a heart of gold but is really as nasty and manipulative as any hooker-hard gun moll. Lane Bradford [The Invisible Monster], Tom Steele, and Marshall Reed are familiar serial stalwarts who play various thugs in Marlin's employ. 

Keith Richards

The acting in this is fine, but Fred C. Brannon, who often co-directed these serials, proves that he has as assured a sole directorial hand as any other Republic fixture. The serial moves at a brisk pace and features some thrilling chase sequences, as well as cliffhangers in which Jesse is unconscious in the back of a runaway wagon, which blows up, and Peg is nearly scalded by acid. In this serial, Frank and Jesse are not anything like the real desperadoes, who were thugs, unrepentant criminals, and who even attacked and murdered civilian abolitionists. The story that they robbed the rich and gave to the poor like Robin Hood is also a load of crap. Keith Richards amassed nearly 200 credits, most of them on television or in bit parts in the movies. He played a drunken saloon patron in Jesse James Rides Again, then played Jesse himself -- a rare starring part -- two serials later. 

Verdict: The "heroes" in this weren't really heroes, but the serial is good and exciting western fun. ***. 

ADVENTURES OF FRANK AND JESSE JAMES

Steve Darrell and Clayton Moore as Frank and Jesse James

ADVENTURES OF FRANK AND JESSE JAMES (13 chapter Republic serial/1948). Directed by Fred C. Brannon and Yakima Canutt.

After the events of Jesse James Rides Again, Jesse (Clayton Moore) is reunited with his brother, Frank (Steve Darrell). Although it is hinted that the men may have been up to nefarious doings in their younger days, all they want to do is go straight, and pay back some of their supposed victims, who were actually robbed by a phony Jesse James -- a man named Rafe (George J. Lewis). The James' boys think the answer to their troubles is a gold mine, but Amos Ramsey (John Crawford of Zombies of the Stratosphere), who covets the gold for himself, is working against them every step of the way. Jesse and Frank pretend to be the cousins of sympathetic Judy Powell (Noel Neill of Freddie Steps Out) and they also have banker Paul Thatcher (Sam Flint) on their side.

Clayton Morre and Noel Neill

Although as portrayed herein the James Brothers seem to come from an alternate dimension, Adventures of Frank and Jesse James is another exciting and well-done Republic western serial. There's a thrilling stage coach race in chapters five - six that seems like a blueprint for the chariot race in Ben-Hur, which is no wonder since Adventures' co-director Yakima Canutt helped stage both. Notable cliffhangers include a carriage flying off of a shattered bridge sans horses; a fiery explosion in a mine; Jesse caught beneath a falling plank with embedded nails; the Marshall (Gene Roth) about to see the boys' real signatures on a real estate deal; and Jesse and an assailant punching each other out and falling off a very high cliff. The uncredited, probably stock musical score for this is especially effective. 

Verdict: Another Western winner from Republic. ***. 

JESSE JAMES RIDES AGAIN

John Compton and Clayton Moore

JESSE JAMES RIDES AGAIN (13 chapter Republic serial/1947). Directed by Fred C. Brannon and Thomas Carr.

Jesse James (Clayton Moore of G-Men Never Forget) is on the run from the sheriff along with his buddy Steve Long (John Compton of The D.A.'s Man). Jesse feels his criminal activities have been highly exaggerated and Steve is completely innocent. With Jesse using a fake name, they come to a small town and bunk with an old farmer, Sam Bolton (Tom London)  and his daughter, Ann (Linda Stirling.) When the farm is attacked by a group of masked Black Raiders, Jesse and Steve help fight them off, and Jesse tells a grateful Ann who he really is. These seemingly inexplicable raids against farmers are engineered by James Clark (Tristram Coffin of King of the Rocket Men) and carried out by Frank Lawton (Roy Barcroft) -- they are after the oil that is under everyone's property.

John Compton with Roy Barcroft

In chapter one a riverboat blows up with Ann tied up on board. Chapter 12 features an exciting horse and carriage race between raiders and farmers as the latter try to deliver oil and the raiders try to stop them. The best cliffhanger occurs in chapter 7, when Ann is put inside a cage called a cotton compress and is nearly crushed to death. The performances are all good in this, the action is fast, the fisticuffs are furious, and the serial is fun. This was the first of three Republic serials featuring the character of Jesse James. The follow ups were The Adventures of Frank and Jesse James and The James Brothers of Missouri. 

Verdict: Action, thrills, and two handsome hunks! ***.  

JESSE JAMES' WOMEN

Don "Red" Barry

JESSE JAMES' WOMEN (1954). Director: Don Barry. 

Jesse James (Don 'Red" Barry) and his gang are hiding out in a small western community where Jesse calls himself Mr. Woodsen. Jesse has an amazing ability to charm the ladies, but he also fleeces and cheats on them with abandon. This time he's juggling several gals: Waco Gans (Peggie Castle of Beginning of the End), who co-owns a saloon; the sexy singer, Delta (Lita Baron of High School Hero); Cattle Kate Kennedy (Betty Brueck), who wants money for her herd but may have a hard time keeping it away from Jesse; and Caprice Clark (Joyce Barrett), the daughter of the banker whose establishment Jesse robs with her complicity. While his brothers and fellow gang members argue with him and amongst themselves, Jesse may have trouble keeping all the ladies from killing each other and himself. 

Lita Baron, Barry, Peggie Castle

Jesse James' Women is actually a fun movie if you don't take it seriously. It borders on the edges of comedy and occasionally steps over, but that's perfectly okay in a movie of this nature. Barry doesn't exactly look like a lover boy, but he's fine in the role, and Peggie Castle makes her mark as the tough saloon gal who doesn't want any other women encroaching into her territory. Michael Carr and Jack Buetel score as, respectively, gang members Bob Ford and Frank James. An interesting aspect of the film is the fact that the protracted fight scene between Waco and Delta, which rivals the one in Destry, is longer than any of the fights between the guys. Waco and Cattle Kate even have a gun dual -- however, brief -- which is something the men never do. Lita Baron warbles a couple of tunes, including "Careless Love" by George Antheil!

Verdict: Surprisingly flavorful comedy-western-musical. ***.