Bartlett Carré Movies
Prolific American actor/stunt-man Bartlett (Bart) Carree played the weakling brother falsely accused of a crime in the Jack Hoxie western Flying Hoofs (1925). That was just one of several such 1920s roles for this gangly actor who went behind the camera after the changeover to sound. From the early '30s until his death from a respiratory ailment, Carre functioned as assistant production manager, assistant director and, very occasionally, director (Gun Smoke [1936]). He was the brother-in-law of exotic stage actress Lenore Ulric. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide- 1953
No relation to the TV and radio series of the same name, Universal-International's Gunsmoke is a Technicolor vehicle for action star (and war hero) Audie Murphy. Murphy plays a wandering hired gun who is commissioned to kill a rancher (Paul Kelly). The film's conflict arises when the gunslinger befriends his would-be victim and comes to reject the attitudes of those who hired him. The fact that the gunman has fallen in love with the rancher's daughter (Susan Cabot) may have something to do with his change of heart. Audie Murphy mends his ways by the time Gunsmoke comes to a close, as if there was any doubt. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Audie Murphy, Susan Cabot, (more)
- 1936
Gun Smoke was the second of a brace of "B"-westerns starring the now-forgotten Buck Coburn. The plot is as standard as standard can be: Rancher George Culverson (Henry Hall) and daughter Jean (Marion Shilling) are menaced by villains Sneed (Philo McCullough) and McGee (Bud Osborne). Hero Steve Branning (Coburn), riding out of nowhere, comes to the Culverson's rescue. The desperate baddies kidnap the heroine, but Steve brings her back home safe and sound after making with the fists and six-guns. Benny Corbett, vilified by many western fans as the least funniest "comedy relief" in film history, actually garners a few laughs. Like the first Buck Coburn starrer, Circle of Death, Gun Smoke was produced by actor-stuntman Montie Montana. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marion Shilling, Bud Osborne, (more)
- 1935
Ken Maynard's western series for Columbia was a mixed bag indeed, with Western Courage neither the best nor worst of the bunch. Maynard plays Ken Baxter, foreman of a dude ranch who takes it upon himself to "tame" spoiled city gal Gloria Hanley (Geneva Mitchell). Lest this seem presumptuous on Ken's part, it should be noted that our hero has the full approval of Gloria's flustered father (Charles French). Rescuing the girl from a caddish fortune-hunter (Cornelius Keefe), Ken is then obliged to save her from horse-rustling villains. Maynard's tendency to ad-lib his dialogue is kept in check in Western Courage, though he's given a wide berth to indulge his questionable singing skills. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ken Maynard, Geneva Mitchell, (more)
- 1935
Former footballer Reb Russell stars in this very low-budget oater as Muley Benson, a young cowpoke unfairly accused of cattle rustling. After splitting the ear of his accuser, Flash Purdue (Kenneth MacDonald), Muley leaves the area only to be summoned five years later by lovely Sally Griswold (Mary Jane Carey). The Griswolds are being terrorized by a mystery man who, it turns out, is none other than Purdue seeking vengeance for the loss of his auricle. Filmed in 1934, Border Vengeance was produced by Willis Kent, an independent operator better known as a purveyor of cheap exploitation melodramas. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1935
Having allowed his name to be listed as "producer" of Gun Smoke, a low-budget Western actually produced by Willis Kent, rodeo star Montie Montana starred in this inexpensive oater, but without the phony producer credit. Originally intended for football star Reb Russell, Circle of Death featured Montana as Little Buffalo, an Indian whose sister, White Fawn (Princess Ah-Tee-Ha), is persecuted by the white settlers, in general, and crooked saloon keeper J.F. Henry (Henry Hall), in particular. Henry is out after Chief Standing Bear's secret gold, but the Indians find shelter at the ranch belonging to Bill Carr (John Ince). When Jerry Carr (Gaylord "Steve" Pendleton, here billed as "Jack Carson") sells the family's cattle to Henry, it is Little Buffalo and the Indians who bring the herd back. In gratitude, the Carrs help the tribe bring the villains to justice. Little Buffalo, meanwhile, has fallen in love with Mary Carr (Tove Lindan) and she with him. After Little Fawn reveals that Little Buffalo is really a white boy named Jim Little, the lone survivor of an Indian raid, the lovers are free to marry. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Montie Montana, Tove Lindan, (more)
- 1935
Produced by Willis Kent and directed by lanky actor-stunt-man Bartlett Carre, this film is perhaps the most obscure Western of the 1930s. The star, Buck Coburn, was a supporting player who usually billed himself as Rocky Camron or Gene Alsace, neither of which were apparently deemed heroic enough for a starring role. Coburn played a cowboy who, after obtaining the job of ranch hand, saves the rancher's pretty daughter (Marion Shilling) from an unscrupulous city attorney (Roger Williams). Quite a few Western veterans took part in this 57-minute-long fiasco, including Chief Thundercloud, Lloyd Ingraham, Philo McCullough, Lafe McKee, Bud Osborne, Nelson McDowell, Lew Meehans, and the Bucko brothers -- Buck and Roy. The film was ostensibly a Montie Montana production, Willis Kent having paid the rodeo star for the use of his name. Montana starred for Kent in Circle of Death, released later in the year. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1935
Star Reb Russell was an all-American football player who tried to make it as a movie cowboy. There were three things standing in his way -- he couldn't act, he couldn't ride, and, even worse, he signed up with ultra-low-budget producer Willis Kent. After a series of westerns that went from bad, to worse, to atrocious, Russell faded from the scene. In this opus, he plays The Cheyenne Kid, who steps in when a group of cattlemen try to drive a sheepherder and his family off their own land. ~ Brian Gusse, All Movie Guide
- 1934
Written and directed by the prolific Oliver Drake, this low-budget Western starred Lane Chandler as a Texas Ranger battling a gang of cattle rustlers. The rustlers have hired Wolf Cassidy (Mike Brand), a notorious city mobster who is captured by the rangers before he reaches his location. Tex Robbins (Chandler) manages to infiltrate the gang by impersonating the imprisoned gangster but his identity is revealed when he falls in love with rancher daughter Ruth O'Bryne (Doris Hill). Texas Tornado was one in a series of eight Chandler oaters produced on the cheap by Willis Kent, a typical low-budget operator perhaps best remembered for such exploitation melodramas as The Road to Ruin (1928 and 1934) and The Wages of Sin (1938). ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lane Chandler, Doris Hill, (more)
- 1934
The seventh of eight terrible Westerns produced by Victor Adamson's comically misnamed Superior Talking Pictures, Rawhide Romance was reportedly filmed for around 2,500 dollars, a ridiculous amount even for the height of the depression. The story concerns a Western dude ranch under siege by a gang of outlaws, one of whom, Jack Evans, masquerades as a ranch hand. The gang is after rich Easterner Lafe McKee, whose daughter is to be betrothed to handsome ranch foreman Buffalo Bill Jr. A misunderstanding occurs and the two lovebirds are found in the same bunk house together -- less than fully clothed. A shotgun wedding is one solution to the moral dilemma and the local circuit rider is called to perform the ceremony. The minister is ambushed by gang leader Boris Bullock, who sees a way to gain access to the wealthy ranch guests. With larceny on his mind, gang leader Boris Bullock impersonates the local minister in order to gain access to a priceless piece of jewelry. The villain's true identity is quickly revealed, happily, and the real circuit rider arrives to perform the ceremony. Several members of this film's cast and crew worked under an alias of some kind, beginning with producer Adamson, who also billed himself Denver Dixon or Art Mix. Hero Buffalo Bill Jr. was increasingly known as Jay Wilsey, while the lead villain, Boris Bullock, had starred as Kit Carson and played supporting roles as William Barrymore. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1933
In this western a tungsten mine provides the setting for action as two miners fight over the claim. A brave hero restores peace by stopping the feud. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1933
Poverty Row entrepreneur Victor Adamson (hiding behind the pseudonym of Denver Dixon) once again managed to release a completely incomprehensible Western filled to the brim with tired old clichés and the most wooden acting this side of cigar-store Indians. Silent screen cowboy Buddy Roosevelt reached perhaps the nadir of his career with this film, in which he plays a deputy marshal trailing a gang of claim jumping murderers lead by pudgy Olin Francis. There is something about a girl (Patsy Bellamy), who must marry in order to cash in on an inheritance; a scheming woman (Anne Howard), who wants the valuable land for herself; and sundry other Western shenanigans, few of which, when strung together by the inept Adamson, make any sense. Strangely, most of the action is sans hero Roosevelt, who remains nameless and is knocked out cold early on in the proceedings. The tired comedy relief is provided by the toothless Si Jenks, and the director briefly appears, Hitchcock style, as a townsman. Typically, supporting actor Bartlett Carré's name is misspelled in the film's credits. Although released in 1934, Lightning Range was filmed a year earlier. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Buddy Roosevelt, Patsy Bellamy, (more)
Slow moving, overly complicated, and badly acted in key roles, this low-budget melodrama from Poverty Row company Progressive Pictures was directed by silent screen actress Dorothy Davenport, the widow of the late matinee idol Wallace Reid. A girl detective, Barbara Hammond (Claudia Dell) is found with the corpse of the woman she has been investigating, radio singer Jane Merrick (Lola Lane). Barbara is arrested for the murder and her reporter husband, Jerry Beal (Richard Hemingway), sets out to find the real killer. The trail leads to a mysterious sanatorium where Dr. Wagner (Mischa Auer) is about to operate on a woman who bears a striking resemblance to Jane Merrick. Jerry is captured by Wagner's henchmen and threatened with a brain transplant. Happily, Jane's maid (Louise Beavers) intervenes by calling the authorities. Dr. Wagner explains that his patient is indeed Jane Merrick and that her operation was to remove an unsightly birthmark. At police headquarters, meanwhile, Barbara breaks down and confesses to Jane's murder in the presence of a handsome gangster named Dapper Dan (Paul Ellis). Suddenly the dead woman's "ghost" appears and a frightened Dan confesses to having killed Jane's twin sister by mistake after Jane had dumped him. Whereas veteran performers such as the always delightful Beavers, Jason Robards (as Jane's station manager), Mischa Auer (whose last name was misspelled "Aver" in the onscreen credits), and Lola Lane managed to rise above the material, comparative newcomers Claudia Dell, Paul Ellis, and Richard Hemingway were not quite so fortunate. In fact, Hemingway, who also appeared in Dorothy Reid's Road to Ruin (1934), was playing bit parts by 1935. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claudia Dell, Lola Lane, (more)
- 1932
The third of Poverty Row producer Willis Kent's eight Lane Chandler Westerns, Battling Buckaroo was filmed on-location at the Hearst ranch in Lone Pine, CA. Chandler played Blackjack, a notorious outlaw who nevertheless helps Tonya Mendoza (Doris Hill) and her prospector father (Lafe McKee) escape a gang of outlaws lead by nasty Duke Lawson (Ted Adams). Arrested by Sheriff Jones (Yakima Canutt), Blackjack makes his escape with the assistance of Tonya, who has fallen in love with the bandit. Blackjack, however, is quickly caught by Duke's men but is once again rescued, this time by his faithful steed Raven. After a furious chase, Blackjack and Raven lose their pursuers and manage to arrive at the Mendoza gold mine in time to save Tonya and her father from Duke. About to be arrested once again by Sheriff Jones, Blackjack reveals himself to be an undercover United States marshal. Director Armand Schaefer later formed a close association with singing cowboy star Gene Autry and would head Autry's television company. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1926
Based on an original story by the prolific L. V. Jefferson, this minor silent Western featured Colorado cowboy Pete Morrison as a ranch hand falsely accused of robbing the stage. With the assistance of his girlfriend, Barbara Starr, Morrison goes in search of the true culprit, the slick Bruce Gordon. Produced in assembly-line fashion by Universal and directed by veteran comic Milburn Morante, The Escape, like almost all Morrison Westerns, was thoroughly geared to audiences in the hinterlands. Morrison survived the sound revolution but was reduced to playing henchmen. He retired in 1935 to take up ranching near his hometown of Morrison, Colorado. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pete Morrison, Barbara Starr, (more)
- 1925
Sheriff Frank Moody (Jack Hoxie) has his hands full chasing after a notorious bandit known only as the Raven. His younger brother Henry (Bartlet Carré) is suddenly jailed for a bank robbery and accused of being the Raven. Henry is about to be hanged when Moody dramatically climbs the scaffold to take his brother's place. The Raven, who turns out to be the bank's manager (Duke R. Lee), steps forward rather than let an innocent man hang. Angular supporting actor Bartlet Carré later worked as a stunt-man, assistant director, and production manager on scores of "B"-westerns. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Hoxie, Bartlett Carré, (more)
