Ray Walker Movies

G-Man Bill Collins (Preston Foster) swings into action when a crooked sweepstakes racket begins insinuating itself upon the honest citizenry of the US. The crooks have flooded the market with counterfeit lottery tickets, reducing many an unwary speculator to poverty. When he's not tracking down the miscreants, Collins finds time to romance Linda Parker (Irene Harvey), who is innocently involved in the bogus ticket operation. The whole thing winds up in an exciting car chase, which later showed up via stock footage in several Universal serials. Missing Evidence was scripted by Dorrell and Stuart McGowan, later the prime movers of TV's Death Valley Days. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A model of precision and economy, the MGM "B" thriller Tell No Tales represented the feature-film directorial debut of former actor Leslie Fenton. Reportedly an expansion of a "Crime Does Not Pay" 2-reeler, the story follows editor Michael Cassidy (Melvyn Douglas) as he tries to save his newspaper from being shut down by corporate fat-cat Matt Cooper (Douglass Dumbrille). Hoping to track down the perpetrators of a recent kidnapping (and thereby obtaining an "exclusive"), Cassidy illegally gets hold of one of the bills used for the ransom, tracing the bill to all its previous owners. In the course of his odyssey, Cassidy stumbles into a wake for a murdered black boxer, a haunting sequence dominated by the powerhouse performance of Theresa Harris. He also learns that the much-hated Cooper was tenously connected to the ransom bill, though the identity of the actual miscreants aren't revealed until the last two reels. Louise Platt costars as Ellen Frazier, a harried witness to the kidnapping who winds up being taken "for a ride" along with the unconscious Cassidy. Also figuring prominently in the action is gambling boss Arno (Gene Lockhart) and his weakling brother Phil (Tom Collins), not to mention musical-comedy star Lorna Travers (Florence George), the main attraction at a Policeman's benefit show (another highlight). Showing up unbilled is one Jack Carlton, later known as Clayton Moore. Tell No Tales definitely deserves to be better known. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Marines are Here exhumes the old bromide about the reckless young sprout who learns how to be an all-around good fellow by joining the "Semper Fidelis"boys. This time, Gordon Oliver plays the lead, a self-centered character named Jonesy who comes to respect the Corps and everything it stands for under the less-than-gentle tutelage of Sergeant Gibbons (Guinn Williams). Jonesy proves he's truly one of the "few good men" during a battle between the marines and a gang of south-of-the-border bandidos. The already simplistic plotline lapses into silliness during the final scenes, but one can't fault the film for a lack of energy. Also appearing in The Marines are Here is June Travis as everybody's love interest. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This poverty-row quickie stars Ray Walker, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams, and James Bush as troubleshooting telephone linemen Torchy, Slim and Eddie. When their supervisor is killed, the boys offer to adopt the dead man's "little" daughter Ann (Sally Blane), actually a curvaceous young lady for whom both men harbor romantic inclinations. Things get serious again when Eddie dies while stringing wire during severely inclement weather. This leaves Torchy and Slim to battle over Ann's affections-and neither one is much of a prize. With an unprepossessing cast and only fair production values, Crashin' Thru Danger could only hope to make back its cost, which wasn't much to begin with. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Paramount's resident "big mouth" Martha Raye was afforded her first top-billed screen assignment in Hideaway Girl. The script would have us believe that rambunctious heroine Helen (Raye) is a high-society debutante with a fondness for singing. The plot is set in motion by a stolen necklace, apparently stolen by Helen. She's innocent, of course, as is another suspect named Mike (Robert Cummings) whom she pretends to marry to save him from arrest. The meaning of the film's title is clarified in the final scene, wherein Helen hides herself on the yacht of the actual thief (Monroe Owsley). In the tradition of Martha Raye's signature tune "Mister Paganini," Hideaway Girl serves up a forgettable little ditty called "Beethoven, Mendelsohn and Liszt." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Within the framework of a conventional newspaper yarn, One Mile From Heaven raises several controversial issues. Scoop-happy reporter Lucy "Tex" Warren (Claire Trevor) senses a big story in the plight of Flora Jackson (Fredi Washington), a young black woman who claims to be the mother of a white baby. In the course of her investigation, Luch discovers that the child actually belongs to Barbara Harrison (Sally Blane), now remarried to a wealthy young man and anxious to bury her past. A gang of extortionists pounce upon this information to victimize Barbara and Flora, but Lucy uses her newspaper connections to help both women. In the end, it is decided that the public's "right to know" can best be ignored in this case. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this crime drama a young boxer joins the police department so he can use their high-quality gymnasium. In time, he comes to like law enforcement. He also falls in love. During the film's climax he breaks up a neighborhood mob, saves two cops in a hostage situation, and wins his girl. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Based on Danny Ahearn's short story "Back in Circulation", Republic's Bulldog Edition stars Ray Walker as Ken Dwyer, two-fisted circulation manager for a great metropolitan newspaper. Though Dwyer's methods always attract customers, they are also the bane of the existence of dyspeptic managing editor Hardy (Regis Toomey). In addition, Dwyer and Hardy continually duke it out over the affections of staff cartoonist Randy (Evelyn Knapp). The story proper gets under way when Dwyer takes on a rival newspaper whose editor is in cahoots with gangster boss Enright (Cy Kendall). One thing leads to another, and before long Randy is kidnapped by the villains, necessitating an oversized shoot-out climax. From its impressive opening titles to its explosive finale, Bulldog Edition is four-star entertainment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Bebe Daniels, all of 34, portrays an ageing movie star who refuses to admit she's too old for the ingenue role in an upcoming musical. Alice Faye is a hopeful chorus girl, while Ray Walker is a would-be director. All the young people get their deserved breaks when Daniels gets wise to herself and settles for a character role in the film--and also admits that the young girl (Rosina Lawrence) whom she's been passing off as her sister is really her daughter. Both Alice Faye and Bebe Daniels are given plenty of opportunities to sing and dance, which is as it should be. But Music is Magic falls short of perfection thanks to the doggedly unfunny comic relief of Frank Mitchell and Jack Durant, who may well be the worst team in motion picture history. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Based on a Peter B. Kyne short story, The Final Assignment (which was also the film's alternate title), Fighting Coward features silent-screen star William Farnum as Jim Horton, a former prison inmate falsely accused of killing a district attorney. Although engaged to his boss' daughter Marie Russell (Joan Woodbury), police officer Bob Horton (Ray Walker) resigns from the force in order to clear his father's name. Before he can rescue Jim, who is under the influence of the vile Krane (Matthew Betz), Bob is himself accused of a crime, this time of taking a bribe. After a tip from jealous Detective Hendricks (Syd Saylor), Marie and her father trail Bob to Krane's hideout but are overpowered by Baker (Roger Williams), the villain's chief lieutenant. They are saved in the nick of time by Bob and Jim, the latter losing his life courageously taking a bullet meant for Russell. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide

Radio baritone Joe Morrison was being groomed for stardom by Paramount when he was top-billed in One Hour Late. Morrison is cast as shipping clerk Eddie Blake, whose girlfriend Betty Dunn (Helen Twelvetrees) is secretary to big boss Stephen Barclay (Conrad Nagel). A trusting soul, Betty sees nothing wrong in accepting Barclay's invitation to visit his home for the weekend. But Eddie suspects the worst and tags along to make sure that Betty's virtue remains intact. As it happens, Eddie's fears are groundless -- as are those of Barclay's wife Ellen (Gail Patrick), who was poised to walk out on her husband at the first sign of extramarital hanky-panky. The script contrives to have a radio station located in the building where Eddie works, permitting Joe Morrison to croon a medley of his hit "The Last Roundup." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide