Bob Cason Movies
- 1949
Heavily trimmed prior to release, this entry in the Charles Starrett "Durango Kid" Western series for Columbia includes leading man Starrett dressed up as John Wayne's stunt double Yakima Canutt in order to match an entire sequence of stock footage lifted from the classic Stagecoach (1939). Starrett plays his usual double-role as Steve (surname Holden this time around) and the Durango Kid, working desperately to prove that gun-runner Cronin (Robert J. Wilke) killed Chief Eagle (Chief Shooting Star) in order to exploit an Indian war. To flush out Cronin and his cronies, Steve gets help from shoe repairman Smiley Burnette and the fort commandant's young son (Tommy Ivo). Yodeling specialist Elton Britt performs his own "Chime Bells" and William Shakespeare Hays' "Mollie Darlin" while Smiley Burnette takes care of Who Don't?" and "The Happy Cobbler), both self-composed. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi
- Starring:
- Charles Starrett, Smiley Burnette, (more)
- 1948
In this western, an entry in the "Durango Kid" series of westerns, a corrupt, prominent citizen owns a small western town. The trouble begins when a cowboy finds himself convinced by the evil town father that he has killed the sheriff. In exchange for his silence, the official forces the man to become the new sheriff and instructs him to turn a blind eye to the villain's evil doings. To stop the outlaw, the new sheriff dons his Durango Kid disguise, prevents the outlaw's gang from robbing the bank, and with the aide of a US Marshal, puts a permanent end to the outlaw's reign of terror. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Charles Starrett, Smiley Burnette, (more)
Filmed in 16 mm Kodachrome and produced by Gower Gulch company Yucca Pictures Corp., this no-budget Western featured former Republic star Sunset Carson as a rancher who comes across a wayward youngster, the Kansas Kid (Al Terry), about to drink from a poisoned spring. Unbeknownst to Sunset, the Kid is actually Bob Ward (misspelled "Wade" in the film's credits!), and he is carrying a letter implicating Carson in the death of his father. While attempting to discover the truth, Bob Ward proves himself a born prize-fighter, besting Sunset's crooked partner, Sam Webster (Bob Cason), in the ring. As it turns out, the Kid is in possession of yet another, unopened, letter that exonerates Sunset in the father's death, shifting instead the blame to Webster and his henchman, Murdock (Stephen Keyes). Produced and directed by Oliver Drake, Sunset Carson Rides Again was one of four Yucca Westerns Carson did at the tail end of his career. As film historian Don Miller so succinctly put it, "Yucca indeed!" ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi
Dissatisfied with his postwar Republic westerns (not to mention his comparatively low salary), Gene Autry switched his base of operations to Columbia in 1947, where he wore two hats as both star and producer. Autry's first Columbia effort, The Last Round-Up, is a vast improvement over the Republics that preceded it. The story finds Autry arranging for an impoverished Indian tribe to move from their desolate reservation to a more fertile and attractive location. Understandably, the Indians doubt Autry's motives, having been previously burned by such usurping crooks as Mr. Mason (Ralph Morgan) and his son Matt (Mark Daniels). Once Autry has convinced the Indians that he's on their side, he must contend with the Masons' murderous minions. In the course of events, Gene Autry sings five songs, several of them directed to pert leading lady Jean Heather. Featured among the Indian characters is little Bobby Blake, a recent graduate of Republic's "Red Ryder" series. Some of the action highlights in The Last Round-Up were lifted from the 1940 Columbia "A" western Arizona. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gene Autry, Jean Heather, (more)
- 1945
At long last, a low-budget Western that fully lives up to its title, Stagecoach Outlaws depicts exactly that, a gang of outlaws robbing a stage line operated by Jed Bowen (Edward Cassidy). When Billy Carson (Buster Crabbe) foils the gang's latest holdup, its leader, Steve Kirby (I. Stanford Jolley), arranges to have the notorious outlaw Matt Brawley (Robert Kortman) sprung from jail. Unfortunately for Kirby, his henchmen instead release Fuzzy Q. Jones (Al St. John), whose stupidity had landed him behind bars. Before he has time to explain, Fuzzy is assigned to kill Billy and then the real Matt Brawley turns up. After a series of bruising fistfights in a ghost town hotel, the gang is finally rounded up and carted off to jail. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi
- Starring:
- Larry "Buster" Crabbe, Frances Gladwin, (more)
- 1945
Fighting Bill Carson, as any B-western aficionado can readily tell you, is played by Buster Crabbe. And where there's Bill Carson, you'll also find faithful sidekick Fuzzy Q. Jones, portrayed as ever by Al "Fuzzy" St. John. This time around, Bill and Fuzzy rescue the lovely Lorraine Miller from stagecoach bandits. Little do they know that Lorraine is actually a member of the gang. Once they do know, Bill and Fuzzy use Lorraine to lure the other crooks into the calaboose. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
