Tom London Movies
A fixture in B-Westerns from the late 1910s, first as a star, then as one of the genre's better boss villains and eventually as a grizzled comedy sidekick à la George "Gabby" Hayes, Tom London claimed to have been a train engineer, a draftsman, and a builder prior to making his acting debut at Universal in 1920. Billed under his real name of Leonard Clapham during most of the silent era, London became a star in his own right in the 1920 Red Rider series, a handful of Western two-reelers co-starring newcomer Virginia Browne Faire. There would be several additional starring vehicles, including an obscure 1923 States' Rights release entitled With Naked Fists, but Clapham/London soon found a more lasting occupation playing Boss Heavies. He began using the name Tom London as a member of Leo Maloney's stock company in the late '20s, his scowling, lantern-jawed features becoming instantly recognizable in scores of Westerns and at least 50 serials and series, silent and sound. Increasingly gaunt and with the ability of changing his appearance by removing a set of false teeth, London added comic sidekick to his resumé in the mid-'40s when, under term contract to Republic Pictures, he supported Sunset Carson in that also-ran cowboy's final series. London was married to silent screen actress Edythe Stayart (1890-1970), whom he had met on the set of Nan of the North (1922). ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide- 1946
In this western, a stagecoach driver learns that his little brother is working for a corrupt, rival stage line. The good brother does all he can to save the bad one from a life of crime. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1946
As usual, the title of this Sunset Carson western from Republic Pictures means absolutely nothing. William Bonney is nowhere to be found, nor is he mentioned. Instead, Carson plays "Sunset Carson," aka "The Kid," a ranger only pretending to be an outlaw in order to infiltrate the notorious Marshall gang. But after investigating the murder of a fellow ranger, Sunset sides with pretty "gang leader" Ann Marshall (Peggy Stewart) against the real culprit, Matt Conroy (Roy Barcroft), a nasty banker attempting to take over Ann's spread by railroading employer Peewee (Russ Whiteman). Although no actor, handsome Sunset Carson looked great on a horse, had a way with a fist and didn't bump into anything along the way. Like all the Republic cowboys, Carson was of course helped immeasurably by the studio's roster of stalwart supporting players, especially Barcroft, Tom London (here playing a friend instead of a foe for a change) and Peggy Stewart. The latter, who was to appear as Carson's leading lady no less than eight times, helped the former rodeo rider become a better thespian "by having him count the dots between his lines." ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1946
Invisible Informer serves as a feature-length vehicle for Republic serial queen Linda Stirling. The story is set in motion by a missing necklace, worth $100,000. The insurance agency covering the necklace suspects that the "theft" is a fraud, and dispatches special operatives Eve Murray (Stirling) and Mike Reagan (William Henry) to get to the truth. In the course of their investigation, Eve and Mike must contend with several murders, perpetrated by the thief with the help of a nasty police dog. Usually seen battling burly bad guys or escaping deadly perils in her other films, Linda Stirling is afforded a few steamy love scenes in this one, which she pulls off with elan. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Donia Bussey, Tristram Coffin, (more)
- 1946
In this western, Red Ryder rounds up a gang of horse thieves who have been stealing cavalry horses. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1946
In this his second starring Western, Republic Pictures' laconic singing cowboy Monte Hale played, of all things, a cartoonist. Hale's popular strip -- "The Adventures of Outlaw, King of Stallions" -- is based on his own observations of a herd of wild horses. Learning that Outlaw is not merely a figment of a cartoonist's imagination, rodeo rider Kay North (Adrian Booth) arrives in Rainbow Valley hoping to capture the animal. Using subterfuge, the girl gains the trust of Monte and his kid sister Clarabelle (Jean Barton) while an associate (Bud Geary) kidnaps Outlaw. Monte and Clarabelle use the comic strip to alert the world of the horse's disappearance, and later Hale's sidekick, Locoweed Larson (Emmett Lynn), spots a rodeo horse looking suspiciously like Outlaw. With the news that Outlaw's absence has caused several mares to be killed by wildcats, a repentant Kay returns the animal to the wilderness. In between saving wild stallions, Hale performs Ridin' Down the Trail, by Eddie Cherkose and Cy Feuer, The Man in the Moon Is a Cowhand, by Roy Rogers, and Ghost Town Jamboree, by Glen Spencer. Formerly known as Lorna Gray, leading lady Adrian Booth would appear in eight Westerns opposite Monte Hale. Like Home on the Range, Hale's starring debut, Man from Rainbow Valley was released by Republic in the company's own color system, Magnacolor (later known as Trucolor). ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Monte Hale, Adrian Booth, (more)
- 1946
Steve King stars in this serial as a forest ranger who must prevent a mad scientist from discovering a buried treasure. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1946
In this comedy-mystery, an advertising executive begins looking into a touchy situation involving two brothers who are embezzling from his company. Also involved are two vicious thugs who are pursuing the brothers. When the ad man releases his new campaign, "The Three Springs," the brothers, whose surname is Spring, believe he is attempting to blackmail them. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kane Richmond, Stephanie Bachelor, (more)
- 1946
Red Ryder and his comical sidekick take on a new batch of bad-guys in this western, the 16th in the Red Ryder series. This time the heroic duo try to save a female rancher from a greedy financier who wants her land so he can exploit the enormous oil fields lying under it. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1946
An exemplary "Red Ryder" Western, Stagecoach to Denver features Red (Allan Lane), his aunt, the Duchess (Martha Wentworth), and Little Beaver (Bobby Blake) caring for Dickie Ray (Bobby Hyatt), a young child who has broken his back in a stagecoach collision that also took the life of Land Commissioner Felton (Edward Cassidy). Unbeknownst to the people of Elkhorn, stage owner Big Bill Lambert (Roy Barcroft) had arranged the "accident" in order to get rid of the pesky land commissioner who threatened to ruin his plans for controlling all communication between Elkhorn and Denver. Little Dickie requires an operation but Doc Kimball (Tom Chatterton) needs the consent from his nearest relative, Denver resident May Barnes (Marin Sais), whom the boy has never met. Since she is scheduled to arrive on the same stage as the new land commissioner, Taylor (Tom Chatterton), Aunt May poses a problem for Big Bill, who has them both kidnapped and replaced with his own people, Wally (Stanley Price) and Beautiful (Peggy Stewart). The latter feels sorry for little Dickie and is ready to bail but Big Bill forces her to go through with the deception. The boy survives his operation, of course, and Big Bill's treachery is eventually revealed. But Beautiful pays a rather heavy price for her part of the deception when she takes a bullet meant for Bobby. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martha Wentworth
- 1946
This fast-paced western, geared entirely to the small-fry, was the first in Republic Pictures' long-running "Red Ryder" series to star Allan Lane. Lane had taken over from William Elliot, who had been promised A-westerns only by company president Herbert I. Yates. Ryder and his young Indian pal Little Beaver (Robert Blake) come to the aid of Ryder's stout aunt, "The Duchess" (Martha Wentworth), whose crusading efforts to open up a privately owned toll-road for all travellers has put the elderly rancher in danger from a powerful if corrupt civic leader, newspaper publisher Crawford (Barton MacLane). The second in the Lane "Red Ryder" series to be filmed, Santa Fe Uprising was substituted for a weaker entry in order to give the new Ryder the best possible chances for success. Wentworth, whose character name as depicted by series creator Fred Harman was, interestingly enough, "Martha 'The Duchess' Wentworth," replaced Alice Fleming in the role as Ryder's indomitable aunt. Lane, Blake, and Wentworth went on to star in six more "Red Ryder" westerns before the series moved over to Eagle-Lion (the former PRC) where the roles would be played by Jim Bannon, Don Kay Reynolds, and veteran B-western actress Marin Sais. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- 1946
In this western, a cowpoke gets in an argument; a scuffle ensues leaving the cowboy to believe that he killed his opponent. He is so wracked with guilt that he travels to the ranch of the dead man's sister, gives himself a new name and begins helping her. Rustlers come; he stops them. Trouble ensues after she learns his true identity. A scuffle ensues. She wings him with a gun; he disarms her. Later she hears the real murderer bragging about his crime during a fight with the hero. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Republic Pictures trotted out some of their popular Western stars -- including Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Trigger, Allan Lane and Don "Red" Barry -- for this backstage musical starring the company's newest singing cowboy, Monte Hale. To top it all off, the studio "inaugurated" Trucolor, which, in reality, was the old Magnacolor system under a more enticing name. Hale played himself, a cowboy seeking employment with "Globe Pictures" along with such other newcomers as little Bobby Blake (later Robert Blake) and his dancing horse Pardner. Monte and the horse are hired to appear in the newest Rod Mason (John Dehner) Western extravaganza, but the self-important Mason grows increasingly jealous of Monte's success and engages in a bit of sabotage. Pardner is slightly injured as a result, and although he is wanted for a series of his own, Monte takes time out to heal the animal's wounds. Mason immediately accuses his rival of not only kidnapping the horse but mistreating him as well. Assisted by Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage, Monte eventually forces Rod and his henchman Ace (Fred Graham) to admit their culpability in Pardner's injuries, doing so the oldfashioned way -- by brute force. In addition to offering an enticing glimpse behind the scenes at Republic Pictures in its heyday, Out California Way also included such songs as Boogie Woogie Cowboy, Rose of Santa Fe, Little Bronc of Mine, and the title tune. Columnist and occasional screenwriter Jimmy Starr appeared briefly as himself. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Monte Hale, Adrian Booth, (more)
- 1946
In this western, a postal inspector becomes determined to discover the truth after a series of robberies involving mysteriously disappearing stagecoaches occur. A female Pinkerton agent assists him, and together, they drain a nearby lake, find a missing stagecoach and solve the mystery. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1946
Most of this Republic B-plus mystery yarn is set in a penthouse, next door to a music hall where a strange song-and-dance extravaganza is being staged. This production incorporates several ice-skating sequences--a good excuse as any for the presence of leading lady Vera Hruba Ralston, Republic's answer to Sonja Henie. Ralston and orchestra leader William Marshall come across the body of producer Edward Norris. Almost everyone in the cast is placed under suspicion, since Norris was a cad and blackmailer. The surprise killer is (as usual) not that much of a surprise, though the scenarists keep us going with some last-minute red herrings. Murder in the Music Hall was reissued in a shortened version titled Midnight Melody in 1951. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vera Ralston, William Marshall, (more)
- 1946
Adhering to the long tradition of casting non-action leads in their serials, Republic Pictures hired former 20th Century-Fox light leading man Robert Kent to headline no less than two chapterplays in 1946, King of the Royal Mounted and The Phantom Rider. In the latter, the amiable, good-looking Kent played James Sterling, an earnest young medical doctor attempting to establish an Indian police corps on the Big Tree Reservation. Facing continuing sabotage by unknown forces, the young medico takes up the guise of "Phantom Rider," a mysterious avenger righting the territory's many wrongs. Sterling is secretly opposed by Fred Carson (LeRoy Mason), whose outward friendliness hides a sinister desire to dominate the reservation, but finds loyal allies in Indian friend Blue Feather (George J. Lewis), pretty schoolmarm Doris Shannon (Peggy Stewart), and Nugget (Hal Taliaferro), a tough but lovable miner. Kent, who was doubled by ace Republic stunt-man Dale Van Sickel, headed a superior cast of serial stalwarts that also included Roy Barcroft as a marshal, Tom London, as a henchman, and, in a bit part, future cowboy hero Monte Hale. An edited feature version of the serial was released simultaneously as Ghost Riders of the West. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
Roll on Texas Moon was the first of 26 Roy Rogers vehicles directed by fast-action specialist William Witney. The plot concerns a deadly feud between cattle ranchers and sheepherders, with the villains playing both ends down the middle. Working on behalf of the cattlemen, Rogers tries to avoid an all-out range war, finding time to champion the cause of gorgeous sheep rancher Jill Delaney (Dale Evans). Dennis Hoey, best known for his portrayals of the thick-witted Lestrade in Universal's "Sherlock Holmes" series, is rather surprisingly cast as the main heavy. While the musical content of Roll on Texas Moon is as omniprescent as ever, the "thrill" content is considerably heightened by the expert contributions of William Witney. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1946
In this western, Red Ryder and his sidekick prove that a man never committed the crime of which he has been accused. They then round up the real outlaws. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1946
Stephanie Bachelor, Republic's answer to Ann Sheridan and Bette Davis, stars in Undercover Woman. The story takes place on a dude ranch, where female private eye Marcia Conroy (Bachelor) has been sent to gather evidence for a divorce case. Instead, she becomes involved with murder when philandering Gregory Vixon (Richard Fraser) turns up dead. None of the ranch's guests is above suspicion so far as sheriff Don Long (Robert Livingston) is concerned, even though Long has a crush on Marcia. Teaming up with Long to solve the killing, Marcia follows the trail of clues to the proverbial least-likely suspect. Originally released at a mere 56 minutes, Undercover Woman was trimmed down even farther for its TV release. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stephanie Bachelor, Robert Livingston, (more)
- 1945
Though it wasn't the first of the batch, The Stranger from Pecos would have been an excellent starting point for Johnny Mack Brown's Monogram western series. Containing a great deal more excitement than the official first entry (The Ghost Rider), the film casts Brown as Nevada, a US marshal assigned to squelch a crooked land-grab. Unfortunately, the head villain as the corrupt local sheriff in his pocket, which stymies Nevada's efforts during the first 4 reels. But justice prevails during the final 2 reels, as Johnny Mack Brown fans knew it would. The romantic subplot is handled by a pair of pop-culture icons: Kirby Grant, star of TV's Sky King, and Christine McIntyre, leading lady of many a 3 Stooges short. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Johnny Mack Brown, Raymond Hatton, (more)
- 1945
A range feud once again took center stage in this average Sunset Carson B-western from assembly-line studio Republic. Believing that his father Andy (Eddy Waller) has been killed by the neighboring Sterling clan, Carson, to his relief, learns that the old man was only wounded in the attack. But as Andy relates the story of how the feud had begun, he is shot dead through the window by an unknown assailant. At first, Sunset mistakenly believes that the killer is Melinda Sterling (Peggy Stewart), daughter of Andy's worst enemy (and onetime rejected girlfriend), Harriet Sterling (Mira McKinney). The real murderer, of course, is a cattle rustler (Wade Crosby), an outsider who, as one character puts it, is "playing both families for suckers." Under the advice of Sheriff Edwards (Tom London), the warring families agree to put an end to hostilities in order for Sunset and Melinda to catch the real enemy. One of Republic's most popular leading ladies (and certainly the most overworked), Stewart was Carson's most frequent co-star, appearing in eight Westerns with the former rodeo champion. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sunset Carson, Peggy Stewart, (more)
- 1945
This Republic programmer stars Lynne Roberts as a country gal who is slickered by a couple of city-fied jewel thieves, played by Peter Cookson and Jerome Cowan. Roberts is set up for a patsy by these two rogues, and nearly ends up in jail-and later on, narrowly escapes being rubbed out by gangsters. When all is said and done, Roberts gives up the Big City and returns to her faithful rural beau William Terry. Director John English keeps things constantly on the move in Behind City Lights, even when nothing much is really happening. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lynne Roberts, Peter Cookson, (more)
- 1945
Broadway producer Earl Carroll was a Ziegfeld-like entrepreneur who staged lavish revues featuring attractive young ladies. Carroll's annual "Vanities" provided story material for three Hollywood films: Murder at the Vanities (34), A Night at Earl Carroll's (40) and Earl Carroll Vanities (45). This last film was produced by Republic Pictures, a bread-and-butter studio specializing in Westerns and serials; Republic had made musicals before, but few of them were expensive enough to allow for lavish production numbers. Earl Carroll Vanities is likewise rather threadbare, though some of the individual musical highlights aren't bad. The plot, such as it is, concerns financially strapped nightclub owner Eve Arden, who finagles Earl Carroll into staging one of his revues at her club. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dennis O'Keefe, Constance Moore, (more)
In this western, a dreamy young woman, tired of her boring life and job travels to an abandoned town where her grandmother had been a notorious dancehall queen. There she imagines scenes from her illustrious grandma's life. The dream takes up most of the picture and during it, the gal meets many fascinating characters. One of those characters is a clean-cut, handsome cowboy. Romance ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Roy Rogers, George "Gabby" Hayes, (more)
- 1945
In this western, a wagonmaster stops a greedy newspaper editor from buying up an entire territory. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1945
The old bromide about a group of avaricious heirs waiting for an old millionaire to die is trotted out in Grissly's Millions. A coterie of disreputable-looking heirs are gathered in the home of the wealthy man (Robert H. Barrat). A murder is committed, and all present fall under suspicion, including stars Paul Kelly and Virginia Grey (both of whom had been "hidden killers" in previous mystery movies, so the audience is kept guessing). Directed by western specialist John English, Grissly's Millions goes through its familiar paces at a fast clip, with a few unexpected twists along the way. The biggest "mystery," however, is why Republic Pictures would choose that unappealing title! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Kelly, Virginia Grey, (more)
