Leo J. McMahon Movies
- 1955
In this production from Benedict Bogeaus and RKO Radio, Robert Ryan stars as a fugitive from justice who hides out in the Far Eastern teak plantation managed by Barbara Stanwyck. As the two fall in love, Stanwyck comes to believe in Ryan's innocence. Upon the arrival of doggedly determined security officer David Farrer, Ryan and Stanwyck escape into the treacherous Burmese jungles. Like many of Bogeaus's productions of the 1950s, Escape to Burma was directed by Allan Dwan. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Ryan, (more)
- 1952
Surprisingly, the Paramount Technicolor actioner Hurricane Smith was not produced by the studio's Pine-Thomas unit (it sure sounds like one of their efforts), but instead by "outsider" Nat Holt. John Ireland plays the title character, a 19th-century mercenary stranded in the South Seas with his pals McGuire (Forrest Tucker) and Brundage (Richard Arlen). When slavetraders come calling, Smith and his confreres steal the traders' ship and head for Australia, in hopes of searching for buried treasure. To raise some quick money, the trio agrees to rent "their" vessel to scientist Gorvahlsen (James Craig), who brings Dr. Whitmore (Murray Matheson) and the doctor's half-Polynesian daughter Luana (Yvonne DeCarlo) along on a scientific expedition. It gradually dawns on Smith that Gorvahlsen and Whitmore are actually fortune hunters, hoping to claim the treasure for themselves. But which side is the lovely Luana on during the film's unending series of crosses, double-crosses and triple-crosses? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yvonne De Carlo, John Ireland, (more)
A sequel to Bob Hope's 1948 box-office success The Paleface, 1952's Son of Paleface is a superior product in every way, thanks largely to the spirited, creative direction of Frank Tashlin. Hope is cast as Junior Potter, a Harvard-educated dude who heads West to claim the inheritance left him by his gunslinger father. Much to his chagrin, Junior discovers that his dad has left him nothing but debts. To stave off Potter Sr.'s angry creditors, Junior pretends that his father has salted away a fortune somewhere in the hills. This arouses the attention of curvaceous saloon owner Mike (Jane Russell), who doubles as a mysterious masked bandit known as The Torch. Meanwhile, Roy Rogers (playing a federal agent named Roy Rogers) keeps tabs on Junior, hoping that he'll lead him to The Torch and her gang. True to form, ex-cartoonist Tashlin fills the screen with a wealth of inventive sight gags and inside jokes: Cecil B. DeMille shows up as a photographer in one scene, while in another, Hope, about to embark on the film's wild climactic chase sequence, shoos away a couple of vultures wearing bibs, warning them that "You'll make the whole thing look impossible." Our favorite scenes: Hope's Wile E. Coyote-like reaction to a particularly potent drink, and his bedroom scene with Roy Rogers' wonder horse Trigger. And don't forget the film's slightly risque punch line "Let's see them top that on television," (you have to be there). Songs in Son of Paleface include "You Are My Valley of Sunshine," "Four-Legged Friend," "Wing Ding Tonight," "What A Dirty Shame," and a reprise of The Paleface's Oscar-winning "Buttons and Bows," performed by Hope, Russell and Rogers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Hope, Jane Russell, (more)
- 1951
An excellent cast brings distinction to the pedestrian goings-on in Silver City. Per its title, the film is set in silver-mining country, with hopeful prospectors and greedy claim-jumpers abounding. The villain of the piece is miserly R. R. Jarboe (Barry Fitzgerald), who holds the lease on the silver lode worked by heroine Candace Surrency (Yvonne DeCarlo) and her father Dutch (Edgar Buchanan). Meanwhile, mining expert Larkin Moffatt (Edmond O'Brien) is prevented from finding work by the vengeful Charles Storrs (Richard Arlen), who happens to be Candace's boyfriend. Murder rears its ugly head, resulting in all sorts of skullduggery, culminating in true melodramatic fashion in an old sawmill. The "bad girl" in Silver City is played by Laura Elliot, who later changed her name to Kasey Rogers and essayed the benign role of Mrs. Larry Tate on TV's Bewitched. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edmond O'Brien, Yvonne De Carlo, (more)
- 1951
Tim Holt rides again in RKO's Gunplay. This time, Holt and saddle pal Chito Rafferty (Richard Martin) try to solve a murder. The victim is the father of 11-year-old Chip Martin ([Harper Carter]) (best known for his portrayal of Clifton Webb's son in Titanic). At stake is a huge inheritance, which young Chip may lose to the head villain (who, of course, masterminded the murder). RKO's Tim Holt series was beginning to show its age, as indicated by the comparatively small box-office take of Gunplay. Nevertheless, the studio continued grinding out low-budget westerns until 1952. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Holt, Joan Dixon, (more)
- 1950
RKO's resident cowboy star Tim Holt made his first 1950 appearance in Storm over Wyoming. Tim and his saddle pal Chito Rafferty (Richard Martin) ride smack dab into the middle of a range war. After preventing a lynching, Our Heroes try to get to the bottom of all the trouble. What we know, but they don't, is that sheep-owner Rawlins (Bill Kennedy) is playing one side against another. Featured in the cast is Richard Powers, who as "Tom Keene" had starred in his own RKO western series in the 1930s. Storm over Wyoming is another directorial feather in the cap of the talented (and underrated) Lesley Selander. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Holt, Noreen Nash, (more)
- 1950
The Randolph Scott western Colt .45 was retitled for TV so as not to be confused with the TV series of the same name. The new title, Thundercloud, misleads the audience into expecting a Native American epic. Actually the film involves a gun salesman (Randolph Scott) whose sample case of Colt 45's is stolen by an outlaw (Zachary Scott--no relation to Randolph). Accused of being a member of the outlaw gang when they start using the Colts in their holdups, the salesman is obliged to track down the crooks. Thundercloud, or Colt .45, represented the last film of supporting actor Alan Hale Sr. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Randolph Scott, Ruth Roman, (more)
- 1950
Although Marie Windsor plays the title role in Dakota Lil, she is shunted away to third billing, right after male leads George Montgomery and Rod Cameron. Montgomery is cast as a secret service agent Tom Horn, sent West to round up a gang of counterfeiters. He starts by gaining the confidence of dance-hall girl Lil (Windsor), one of the ringleaders. She, in turn, leads Horn to the brains of the operation, Harve Logan
(Cameron). When Lil finds out that Horn is a Fed, she's tempted to fill him full of holes; instead, having fallen in love with him, she tries to help him get the goods on Logan. Dakota Lil was based on a story by Frank Gruber, later one of the leading lights of the TV-western craze. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
(Cameron). When Lil finds out that Horn is a Fed, she's tempted to fill him full of holes; instead, having fallen in love with him, she tries to help him get the goods on Logan. Dakota Lil was based on a story by Frank Gruber, later one of the leading lights of the TV-western craze. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Montgomery, Rod Cameron, (more)
- 1948
- NR
Station West may look like a western, but it sure sounds like a contemporary film noir. Dick Powell stars as Haven, a government private investigator assigned to investigate the murders of two cavalrymen. Travelling incognito, Haven arrives in a small frontier outpost, where leggy saloon singer Charlie (Jane Greer) controls all illegal activities. After making short work of Charlie's burly henchman (Guinn Williams), Haven gets a job at her gambling emporium, biding his time and gathering evidence against the gorgeous crime chieftain Cast as a philosophical bartender, Burl Ives is afforded at least one opportunity to sing. Station West was one of a handful of RKO Radio films released to the 8-millimeter home-movie market in the mid-1970s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dick Powell, Jane Greer, (more)
Director Victor Fleming's final film features Ingrid Bergman as a vivid and luminous Joan of Arc, the 15th-century French peasant girl who led the French in battle against the invading English, becoming a national hero. When she was captured, tortured, and ultimately executed by the English, she was made a Catholic saint. Bergman's Joan is a strong and spiritual figure who proves her devotion to the Dauphin (Jose Ferrer), later to become the King of France. Joan is compelling as she wins an alliance with the Governor of Vaucouleurs and the courtiers at Chinon, leads her army in the Battle of Orleans, is betrayed by the Burgundians, and edicts that "our strength is in our faith." ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ingrid Bergman, Selena Royle, (more)
- 1938
Hopalong Cassidy meets Belle Starr in this rather somber entry in the long-running Western series. Belle (Natalie Moorhead) is being released after serving a five-year prison sentence for standing by her outlaw husband, Sam. The sheriff (John Beach) wants to drop her off in a Nogales dancehall (read: brothel), but Hoppy (William Boyd) forces him to let her go back to her ranch. Meanwhile, back at the Bar 20, all is not well. Ranch hand Twister (Leo McMahon) is conspiring with Belle's foreman, Dan Ringo (Alden Chase), to rustle the Bar 20 cattle and Lucky (Russell Hayden) is blamed. Wounded in the resulting melee, Lucky is cared for by Belle and her daughter, Jacqueline (Dorothy Short), while Hoppy and Windy (George "Gabby" Hayes) investigate the goings-on. Trimmer Windler (Lane Chandler) is suspected to be behind the rustlings, but there is no proof and the slippery villain is free to conspire with Ringo to steal Belle's herd. Hoppy's trap to catch the rustlers backfires when the sheriff is murdered. Soon he, Belle, and Jacqueline find themselves outnumbered by the gang. While Ringo promises to let the women go unharmed if Hoppy surrenders, a fearless Belle, her guns blazing, goes up against him alone and is mortally wounded. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William "Hopalong" Boyd, George "Gabby" Hayes, (more)
- 1938
The oft-filmed Zane Grey story The Mysterious Rider was given another go-round by Paramount Pictures in 1938. Produced by Harry Sherman of "Hopalong Cassidy" fame, the film bestows top billing upon stalwart supporting actor Douglass Dumbrille. Usually cast as a villain, Dumbrille is here seen in a sympathetic role as "good bad man" Pecos Bill, who turned to a life of crime after being falsely accused of murder. In the company of his comic sidekick Frosty (Sidney Toler), Pecos chances arrest by returning to his home town to visit his grown daughter Collie (Charlotte Field). He discovers that Collie is about to enter into a loveless marriage Jack (Weldon Heyburn), the shiftless son of Pecos' former foreman Bellounds (Stanley Andrews), who seems to be in cahoots with an cattle-rustling gang headed by Folsom (Monte Blue). In rapid succession, Pecos ends Folsom's criminal activities, clears the name of his old friend Bellounds, and plays matchmaker for Collie and the boy she really cares about, young Wils (Russell Hayden). To long and expensive to qualify as a mere B picture, Mysterious Rider is one of the best of Paramount's late-1930s "Zane Grey" series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Douglas Dumbrille, Sidney Toler, (more)
- 1937
The "Hopalong Cassidy" series closed out 1937 with its 14th entry, Texas Trail. No surprises in the cast: William Boyd is Hoppy,George "Gabby" Hayes is Windy, and Russell Hayden is Lucky. This time the story takes place during the time of the Spanish American war, when the U.S. army was rounding up as many horses as possible. Hoppy and his pals are hired to deliver an equestrian shipment to the government, a task made difficult by a vicious gang of horse thieves. When things get too hot for our heroes, the Cavalry comes riding to the rescue (a particularly well-photographed sequence, courtesy of the talented Russell Harlan). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William "Hopalong" Boyd, George "Gabby" Hayes, (more)
- 1937
Hills of Old Wyoming was the 10th entry in the "Hopalong Cassidy" series, and at 79 minutes one of the longest of the batch (beaten out only by the 82-minute Borderland). William Boyd and George "Gabby" Hayes are back as Hoppy and Windy, but handsome sidekick Johnny Nelson (James Ellison) has been replaced by Lucky Jenkins (Russell Hayden, who remained with the series until 1941). The plot focuses on an Indian reservation where the residents are being victimized by villainous deputy Andrews (Stephen Morris, aka Morris Ankrum). Fomenting a range war between Indians and cattlemen for his own profit, Andrews is foiled by Hoppy and company. Former silent screen star Clara Kimball Young is given a few moments to shine in the minor role of Ma Hutchins. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William "Hopalong" Boyd, George "Gabby" Hayes, (more)
- 1937
The rise of British entertainer Graci Fields from humble mill girl to the most popular and highest paid performer in Great Britain during the Depression era is chronicled in this biographical drama. Fields got her big break when a composer heard her singing in a ramshackle pub. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
