Raymond Hatton Movies
Looking for all the world like a beardless Rumpelstiltskin, actor Raymond Hatton utilized his offbeat facial features and gift for mimicry in vaudeville, where he appeared from the age of 12 onward. In films from 1914, Hatton was starred or co-starred in several of the early Cecil B. DeMille productions, notably The Whispering Chorus (1917), in which the actor delivered a bravura performance as a man arrested for murdering himself. Though he played a vast array of characters in the late teens and early 1920s, by 1926 Hatton had settled into rubeish character roles. He was teamed with Wallace Beery in several popular Paramount comedies of the late silent era, notably Behind the Front (1926) and Now We're in the Air (1927). Curiously, while Beery's career skyrocketed in the 1930s, Hatton's stardom diminished, though he was every bit as talented as his former partner. In the 1930s and 1940s, Hatton showed up as comic sidekick to such western stars as Johnny Mack Brown and Bob Livingston. He was usually cast as a grizzled old desert rat, even when (as in the case of the "Rough Riders" series with Buck Jones and Tim McCoy) he happened to be younger than the nominal leading man. Raymond Hatton continued to act into the 1960s, showing up on such TV series as The Abbott and Costello Show and Superman and in several American-International quickies. Raymond Hatton's last screen appearance was as the old man collecting bottles along the highway in Richard Brooks' In Cold Blood (1967). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1954
A U.S. Army cavalry officer (Dane Clark) leads westward-bound settlers through Indian territory. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- 1953
A "big" western by Allied Artists standards, Cow Country is directed with his usual panache by horse-opera expert Lesley Selander. Adapted from a novel by Curtis Bishop, the film stars Edmond O'Brien as Ben Anthony, an adventurer-for-hire who casts his lot with Texas cattleman Walt Garnet (Robert H. Barrat). The villains want to drive Anthony and his fellow ranchers off their land, but Ben's six-guns prevent this, at least temporarily. Meanwhile, Linda Garnet (Helen Westcott), Walt's daughter and the fiancee of the film's chief bad guy Harry Odell (Bob Lowery), aligns herself with Ben when Odell proves to be spectacularly unfaithful with saloon chirp Melba Sykes (Peggie Castle). Barton MacLane rounds out the cast in one of his standard loud, abrasive roles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edmond O'Brien, Helen Westcott, (more)
- 1952
This Sam Katzman costume quickie stars Sterling Hayden as 17th-century privateer Kit Gerardo, and (inevitably in a buccaneer meller of this sort) Rhonda Fleming as a gorgeous female pirate named Rouge. When Rouge's vessel is besieged by the minions of evil Caribbean governor Luis del Toro (John Sutton), Gerardo comes to her rescue. As the film unfolds, it turns out that practically no one is who they seem to be--especially the mysterious Rouge. Producer Katzman cannily fleshes out the film with miles of stock footage from earlier pirate epics. Apparently contemptuous of his role, Sterling Hayden delivers an uncharacteristically awful performance, but Rhonda Fleming makes the whole enterprise worthwhile. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rhonda Fleming, Sterling Hayden, (more)
- 1951
A series of prospector murders near an abandoned mine are investigated by a lawman in this exciting western. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1951
From the opening credits onward, bombastic comedian Jerry Colonna dominates the proceedings in Kentucky Jubilee. Colonna plays second-rate entertainer Jerry Harris, who links up with aspiring singer Sally Shannon (Jean Porter) and hotshot reporter Jeff Benson (James Ellison). The trio heads to the small town of Hickory, Kentucky to participate in an annual fundraising musical show. Things get hectic when a gang of crooks steal the receipts and kidnap Colonna (worse luck for the crooks!) The scene-stealing supporting cast includes Fritz Feld, Raymond Hatton, Vince Barnett, Chester Clute, Si Jenks, George Cheseboro and George Sanders (no, not that George Sanders). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jerry Colonna, Jean Porter, (more)
- 1951
Originally slated for release by Eagle Lion, Skipalong Rosenbloom purchased by United Artists -- who gave it a cursory theatrical release before selling the film to television. As it turned out, TV was the appropriate medium for this heavy-handed satire of video westerns. Former boxing champ Maxie Rosenbloom plays a lampooned variation of Hopalong Cassidy, with all the standard western cliches in evidence. "Skipalong" Rosenbloom is depicted as the star of a heavily commercialized TV kiddie show, presided over by a smarmy announcer. The plot proper finds "Skipalong" at odds with western bad guy Butcher Baer, played by Rosenbloom's onetime ring opponent Max Baer. Others in the cast are Jackie Coogan, Fuzzy Knight and Hillary Brooke, who seem to be having fun with the dreadful material foisted upon them. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- "Slapsie Maxie" Rosenbloom, Max Baer, (more)
- 1950
The plot for this Western involves the wives and girlfriends of the Dalton gang, who decide to carry on the gang's criminal activities after the menfolk were either gunned down or locked up. Old-time B-Western star Lash LaRue shows up to take care of them. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1950
After his parents are killed, a cowboy vows to avenge their deaths. (AKA Crooked River) ~ All Movie Guide
- 1950
Blazing Guns is the television title of the Lippert Studios western Marshal of Helldorado. Jimmie Ellison and Russell Hayden star as perennial frontier do-gooders Shamrock and Lucky. This time, our heroes come to the assistance of banker Raymond Hatton, who is being blackmailed by an outlaw band that is savvy to Hatton's past life as a desperado. Fuzzy Knight co-stars as comedy relief, while Betty Adams provides the feminine interest. Marshal of Helldorado was one of a quartet of "Four Star Westerns" filmed back to back in the space of a single month: all four films starred Ellison, Hayden, Hatton, Knight and Adams. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1950
Marshal of Heldorado is one of six "Four-Star" westerns produced and released by Lippert Pictures in 1950. If these six films tend to look alike, it isn't surprising. All six were filmed at the same time within a space of four weeks, and all starred Russell "Lucky" Hayden, Jimmy "Shamrock" Ellison, Raymond Hatton, Fuzzy Knight and Betty (later Julie) Adams. In this outing, Shamrock and Lucky come to the aid of a banker (Hatton) with an unsavory past. A gang of crooks has been blackmailing the banker into cooperating with their robbery schemes, but Our Heroes scotch this little racket in record time. Marshal of Heldorado was released to television as Blazing Guns. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Ellison, Russell Hayden, (more)
- 1950
Fast on the Draw was one of six Lippert Studios "Four Star" westerns, all of which were filmed simultaneously in the space of a single month. Jimmy Ellison plays Shamrock, a Colorado Ranger who suffers from a fear of firearms. Despite this handicap, Shamrock is assigned to pose as a gunman, the better to get the goods on a crooked land baron. As in the early "Four Star" outings, Ellison's co-stars are Russ Hayden, Raymond Hatton, Fuzzy Knight and Betty (later Julie) Adams. Cast as the outlaw leader is Tom Tyler, whose performance is hampered somewhat by encroaching arthritis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Ellison, Russell Hayden, (more)
- 1950
Though released second, Hostile Country was the first of six "Four Star" westerns, filmed back to back within the space of four weeks by Lippert Productions. Starring in all six of these quickie oaters are Jimmie Ellison and Russell Hayden as a couple of wandering cavaliers named Shamrock and Lucky. This time around, Our Heroes come to the aid of a pretty cattle rancher (Betty Adams), who is being victimized by a gang of landgrabbers. Like Ellison and Hayden, Betty Adams (who later billed herself as Julie Adams) was also present in all six of Lippert's "Four Star" westerns, as were Raymond Hatton and Fuzzy Knight. Hostile Country was later released to TV as Outlaw Fury. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Ellison, Russell Hayden, (more)
- 1950
Sudden Death is the TV title of the 55-minute western Fast on the Draw. Colorado Ranger Jimmy Ellison has a phobia about handling guns, but it's his job to keep the peace. So Ellison poses as a famous gunslinger, hoping to intimidate a crooked land baron into capitulation. There comes a time in the course of the film that the Ranger must prove that he isn't all talk. Fast on the Draw was one of six Lippert "Four Star" westerns filmed back to back in the space of one month; all six films starred Ellison, Russell Hayden, Raymond Hatton and Betty (later Julie) Adams. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1950
Colorado Ranger was the third in Lippert Studio's six-film "Four Star Western" series. All six entries were filmed simultaneously within the same month, and all starred Russell "Lucky" Hayden, James "Shamock" Ellison, Raymond Hatton, Fuzzy Knight, and Betty (later Julie) Adams. In this installment, "Shamrock" takes on the outlaw gang that kidnapped his father. "Lucky" tags along to give his pal a hand. The dialogue sounds as if it was being made up as the film went along, which may very well have been the case. Colorado Ranger was released to television as The Last Bullet. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Ellison, Russell Hayden, (more)
- 1950
Crooked River is another of Lippert Studio's "Four Star" western series. These six films were shot back-to-back in the space of a month; all were directed by Thomas Carr, and all starred Russell "Lucky" Hayden, Jimmy "Shamrock" Ellison, Raymond Hatton, Fuzzy Knight and Betty (later Julie) Adams. This time, Shamrock hopes to avenge the murder of his parents. The clue to the killer's identity is a ring, stolen from Shamrock's father. Director Thomas Carr was later a leading light of TV's Superman. Crooked River was released to television as The Last Bullet. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Ellison, Russell Hayden, (more)
- 1950
West of the Brazos was one of six westerns filmed back-to-back within a single month by Lippert Studios in 1950. All of these films starred Russ "Lucky" Hayden, Jimmy "Shamrock" Ellson, Raymond Hatton, Fuzzy Knight and Betty (later Julie) Adams. In Brazos, "Lucky" and "Shamrock" try to foil the evil machinations of a group of crooked land speculators. At stake are thousand of acres of oil-rich property, rightfully belonging to the local ranchers. West of the Brazos has been released to television as Rangeland Empire. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Ellison, Raymond Hatton, (more)
- 1950
Veteran character actor Joe Sawyer produced, co-wrote and co-starred in the diverting docudrama Operation Haylift. Based on an actual incident that took place in 1949, the film recounts the efforts of the U.S. Air Force to rescue stranded cattle during a devastating series of blizzards. Sawyer's role is minor compared to Bill Williams and Tom Brown, who play a pair of brothers who sign up together for Air Force duty. Made with the full cooperation of the USAF, the film utilizes the services of a fleet of "flying boxcars," and also features the actual pilots who participated in the rescue. Handling the romantic angle in the film's dramatic passages are Ann Rutherford and Jane Nigh. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bill Williams, Ann Rutherford, (more)
- 1950
County Fair is an amiable racetrack drama starring Rory Calhoun. A veteran horse trainer, Calhoun has developed a somewhat unsavory reputation. He redeems himself by arranging for near-impoverished matron Florence Bates to win an important race. It's all for the love of a good woman--in this case, Bates' niece Jane Nigh. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rory Calhoun, Jane Nigh, (more)
- 1949
Monogram's Johnny Mack Brown western series galloped ever onward in Hidden Danger. This time, Johnny and his saddle pal Banty (Raymond Hatton) come in contact with a cattlemen's protective organization. Ostensibly an honest venture, the association is the front for an extortion racket, headed by a gent named Carson (Myron Healey). The action highlights are complemented by the comic antics of Max Terhune and his dummy Elmer. Aging star Brown relinquishes the romantic responsibilities to Marshall Reed, who spends his screen time wooing heroine Christine Larson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Johnny Mack Brown, Raymond Hatton, (more)
- 1948
Three fellows band together to help a woman find her uncle's cache of gold in this western. All they have to help them is a tattered map that her uncle, a prisoner of war, created in camp. Unfortunately two badguys have the map and try to turn the three goodguys against the niece. They do not succeed and justice prevails. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1948
In this western, a hero prevents a stagecoach robbery and wins the respect and confidence of a mine owner and a pretty woman who is going west to see her sister. Two outlaws next try to jump the miner's claim. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christine McIntyre
- 1948
"Some were good, some were bad, and all looked pretty much alike." This was "B"-western historian Don Miller's assessment of Johnny Mack Brown's Monogram westerns of the 1940s. One of the better look-alikes was Crossed Trails, in which Brown champions the cause of pretty ranch owner Maggie (Lynne Carver). The villains (Douglas Evans and Steve Clark) hope to control the local water rights by laying claim to Maggie's property. They further this cause by framing Maggie's guardian Bodie (Raymond Hatton) for murder. But our hero manages to rescue the damsel, clear the falsely accused Bodie, and round up the crooks seemingly in one fell swoop. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Raymond Hatton, Johnny Mack Brown, (more)
