Elmer Clifton Movies
Entering films in 1914, onetime stage actor Elmer Clifton became a protege of D.W. Griffith. Clifton played major roles and functioned as a production assistant in Griffith's The Birth of a Nation (1915) and Intolerance (1916), then was assigned to direct a number of features produced by Griffith's unit at Triangle Films. Among his better directorial efforts was the Dorothy Gish vehicle Nugget Nell (1919), the seafaring epic Down to the Sea in Ships (1922) and the rousing urban melodrama Let 'Er Go, Gallegher (1926). Most of Clifton's talking pictures were programmers, potboilers, westerns and serials for the lesser-echelon studios. While directing the 1949 Ida Lupino-produced Not Wanted, Elmer Clifton fell ill, obliging Lupino to briefly take over the directorial reigns herself. Elmer Clifton died shortly afterward; the last film to bear his imprimatur was the 1950 western The Silver Bandit (1950). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi- 1950
Produced, written, and directed by the veteran Elmer Clifton (here for obscure reasons billed Elmer S. Pond), Red Rock Outlaw had the audacity to feature its novice star, Bob Gilbert (who also wrote the original story), as identical cousins -- one good, the other bad. The good Gilbert, a rancher, enjoys a campfire singalong with the members of s stranded girls' band, falling in love with Carolina (Ione Nixon), a bleach-blonde looker, along the way. The bad cousin, meanwhile, is scheming with neighboring rancher Jim Martin (Forrest Mathews) to have nice Bob killed so they can combine their properties. Produced in 16 mm back in 1946 or 1947 and released on States' Rights by Screen Features, Inc., Red Rock Outlaw was merely an excuse to showcase a series of country & western specialty acts, including Wanda Cantlon, who, according to an onscreen credit, introduced the song "Alimony" and supplied choreography. Lee "Lasses" White, formerly of Jimmy Wakely musical Westerns, did his usual rustic schtick and the girl band, under the direction of Reno Browne, performed "Boogie Woogie Cowboy, Boogie Joe." It is very likely than leading man Bob Gilbert was a replacement for Spade Cooley, with whom he and most of the cast had been long associated. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi
- 1950
Charles Starrett is back as the masked do-gooder known as The Durango Kid in Columbia's Outcasts of Black Mesa. The plot follows the time-honored pattern established by previous Starrett vehicles. Once again, Our Hero is accused of a crime he didn't commit. Once again, he breaks jail to find the real culprits. And once again, he dons his Durango Kid disguise, whereupon stunt-double Jock Mahoney swings into action. Outcasts of Black Mesa is distinguished by the presence of a relative newcomer to the film game, leading lady Martha Hyer. This "new" film is actually comprised of a handful of freshly shot sequences, spliced together with scads of stock footage from earlier "Durango Kid" entries. (a common practice at Columbia, as witness all those look-alike "3 Stooges" comedies). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Charles Starrett, Smiley Burnette, (more)
- 1950
Produced 16 mm color stock by television personality Spade Cooley in 1947, The Silver Bandit was not released until April of 1950 when distributor Raymond Friedgen had it blown up to 35 mm. Cooley starred as a mild-mannered bookkeeper shipped West by his boss, Vanfleet Stoglehammer (Dick Elliott), to investigate problems at the Green Valley Mine. From pretty Molly Doren (Virginia Jackson), Cooley learns that a masked bandit has been terrorizing the area's silver mines. Falling into an abandoned mine shaft, the intrepid Easterner discovers the bandit's lair and discarded spare costume. Trying on the suit, Spade is mistaken for the real bandit, but escapes the sheriff's posse. After sundry ill-conceived B-Western clichés, Cooley is able to unmask the real bandit, who proves to be none other than Molly's erstwhile boyfriend (Bob Gilbert). A classically trained musician turned country & western bandleader, Spade Cooley became a household name starring on The Hoffman Hayride, one of television's earliest successes. Still performing by 1961, Cooley created headlines once again when he was convicted of beating his estranged wife to death. He died while on a furlough from Vacaville Prison in 1969. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi
- Starring:
- Spade Cooley, Bob Gilbert, (more)
- 1949
Quick on the Trigger was Charles Starrett's second "Durango Kid" picture for 1949. It all begins when ousted sheriff Steve Warren (Starrett) is put on trial for the murder of heroine Nora Reed's (Helen Parrish) brother. Steve is innocent, of course, but he doesn't stand a chance against prosecuting attorney Garvey Yager (Lyle Talbot) -- especially since Yager is the real killer. Escaping from jail, Steve dons a mask and assumes the identity of the Durango Kid to see to it that justice is done. The film's requisite comedy and music are handled, respectively, by Smiley Burnette and the Sunshine Boys (not George Burns and Walter Matthau!) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Charles Starrett, Smiley Burnette, (more)
The terrible consequences of perverting the legal system are spelled out in The Judge. In one of his rare starring roles, Milburn Stone plays criminal lawyer Martin Strang. Suspecting his wife Lucille (Katherine de Mille) of infidelity, Strang schemes to have her put out of the way. He wangles a not-guilty verdict for murderer William Jackson (Paul Guilfoyle), then blackmails Jackson into participating in his plan to punish Lucille. Things don't quite go off as expected, and before long several lives are needlessly destroyed. The title character of The Judge, played by Jonathan Hale, relates the sordid goings-on in flashback form. Two future "regulars" of the Superman TV series, John Hamilton and Herb Vigran, show up in minor roles. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Milburn Stone, Katherine de Mille, (more)
- 1949
First love leads to unexpected responsibilities and difficult decisions in this well-crafted drama. Sally Kelton (Sally Forrest) is a free-spirited young woman who is chafing at the restrictions of living at home with her folks and wants to make something of herself. One evening after work, she stops for a drink with some friends and meets Steve Ryan (Leo Penn), a charming but cynical piano player. Sally falls for Steve in a big way and they embark on a brief romance, but Steve regards Sally as a passing fancy and soon moves on to another town. While Sally follows him, Steve makes it clear things are over between them and he takes a gig in South America. Heartbroken Sally takes a new job at a filling station and general store run by Drew Baxter (Keefe Brasselle), a war veteran with a bad leg and a serious crush on Sally. Sally is still getting over Steve and isn't interested in Drew when she learns that she's carrying Steve's child. The disgraced Sally decides to give her child up for adoption, but finds her maternal instincts are stronger than she expected and her desire to have her baby back leads her on a desperate and dangerous path. While Streets of Sin (aka Not Wanted) is credited to director Elmer Clifton, most of the picture was actually shot under the aegis of co-producer Ida Lupino after Clifton fell ill during production; it was the actress' first film as a director. In the '60s, Streets of Sin was reissued as The Wrong Rut, with the addition of footage of a Caesarian birth "borrowed" from an educational film, and booked into drive-ins and grindhouses on the exploitation circuit. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sally Forrest, Keefe Brasselle, (more)
- 1949
Produced and directed by the veteran Oliver Drake and filmed at his ranch near Pearblossom, CA, this minor musical Western starred Spade Cooley, a bandleader known as the "King of Western Swing." In between performing such numbers as "Cowboy Serenade" and "Gower Gulch Is Home Sweet Home to Me," Cooley wins the rodeo on the feared T.N.T (he was doubled by the later so notable Richard Farnsworth), beats up a few bad guys, including stuntmen Bob Woodward and Boyd Stockman, and romances pretty girl singer Wanda Cantlon. The Kid From Gower Gulch was apparently produced in 1947 (in 16 mm, according to Drake himself) but was not released until 1949. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi
- 1947
Produced in Kernville, California, this typical Jimmy Wakely singing Western from Monogram had the former radio troubadour settling a range feud between his uncle and boss (Budd Buster) and a homesteader (songwriter Jack Baxley) by proving that both were the victims of their crooked foremen (Zon Murray and Bob Duncan). Patricia Starling, who also appeared opposite Roy Rogers and Sunset Carson, added a bit of romance to the proceedings, which also benefitted from Wakely's warbling of the old standard Whoppi Ti Yi Yo and his own The Lonesome Trail. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi
- 1947
Eddie Dean and his pal Soapy Jones (Roscoe Ates) are assigned by the U.S. marshal to safeguard the invaluable Mexican Lopez diamond, which Don Lopez (Harry Vejar) insists on displaying on a worthy lady at every festive occasion. Due to a drought, the don and his neighbors are planning to move westward but the gold set aside for the trek is stolen and one of the hands killed by a couple of Chicago gangsters, Barrett (Gregg Barton) and Cory (Jimmy Martin), who are in cahoots with the local cantina proprietor, Avery (Zon Murray). Eddie and Soapy get their hands full not only safeguarding the diamond and tracking down the killers but must also contend with a mysterious Senorita, Maria (Dolores Castle), who may or may not be in league with Barrett. Backed by The Sunshine Boys, Dean takes time out to warble his own and Hal Blair's "Cry, Cry, Cry" and "West to Glory" and Pete Gates' In the Shadow of the Mission". ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi
- Starring:
- Eddie Dean, Roscoe Ates, (more)
- 1946
One of four western films made for PRC by bantam-weight Bob Steele, Ambush Trail stars Steele as cowpoke Curley Thompson. The villain of the piece intends to bankrupt all the local ranchers and grab up the surrounding property for himself. But with Curley involved, the bad guy and his minions don't have a chance. The screenplay, by D. W. Griffith alumnus Elmer Clifton, is a medley of western cliches, pausing every so often for a first-rate action sequence. Perennial sagebrush sidekick Sid Saylor provides negligible comedy relief. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Budd Buster, Edward Cassidy, (more)
- 1946
In this western, Billy Carson must help out his bumbling side kick after he involves himself in a land scam. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1946
As with his previous music Western vehicle, Moon over Montana (1946), former radio crooner Jimmy Wakely composed the title song for this film. With Wesley Tuttle and His Texas Stars as his backup group, Wakely also warbled Paul Westmoreland's Detour, De Camptown Ladies, by Stephen Foster, and I Miss You Since You've Been Gone by Arthur Smith. The girl Wakely "missed" was Jean Carlin, whose prospector grandfather (Budd Buster) is being harrassed by an unknown force. Wakely and his usual sidekick Lee "Lasses" White investigate and soon determine that the mystery villain is actually a villainess, Flora Carter (Iris Clive), a ruthless lady rancher who holds the mortgage to grandpa Buster's property. In between crooning the aforementioned tunes and winning the big race on his wild mustang, Wakely manages to discover enough evidence to convict the unscrupulous Ms. Carter. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi
- 1945
The most thrilling aspect of the PRC oater Lightning Raiders is the film's title. Though Buster Crabbe earns top billing as do-gooder Billy Carson (aka Billy the Kid), the first reel is dominated by Al St. John as Billy's mangy saddle pal Fuzzy Q. Jones. Expecting an important letter, Fuzzy gets suspicious when the mail fails to arrive on time. Billy and Fuzzy soon learn that the mail has been hijacked by bandits, who are holed up in a seemingly impenetrable shack. The brains behind the criminal operation is a "leading citizen" type who hopes to gain a financial leg-up in the community by reading the stolen mail. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Larry "Buster" Crabbe, Fuzzy St. John, (more)
- 1945
In this western, the Texas Rangers must stop a range war between sheepherders and cattle ranchers from erupting. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1945
The penultimate entry in the Texas Rangers lineup, PRC's super-low-budget rival to Republic Pictures' Three Mesqueteers series, Frontier Fugitives once again stars Tex Ritter, Dave O'Brien, and Guy Wilkerson. This time, the trio are on to a gang that preys on both traders and Indians. Trailing the main suspect in the killing of Trader Williams (George Morrell), Tex is accused by a fake Indian agent (Jack Ingram) of murdering a brave. The latter, however, proves to be merely another member of the gang in disguise but before he can clear his good name, Tex has to get himself out of jail. When not battling crooked Indian agents and comic opera braves, Ritter performs Al Dexter's "Too Late to Worry, Too Blue to Cry" and "I'll Wait for You, Dear." The Western was filmed on location at Chatsworth, CA. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi
- 1945
One of several WW II-era "juvenile delinquent" dramas, Youth Aflame was filmed two years before its 1945 release, and frankly looks much older. It's the old saw about two sisters, one good, one bad. The nice sister (Kay Morley) tries to steer the nasty one (Joy Reece) towards the straight and narrow path, but it's no use. Only when it's too late does the erring sister learn the horrible price of fast driving, hard drinking and uninhibited sex. And it's ALL HER PARENTS' FAULT!!!! Youth Aflame was reissued in 1959 as Hoodlum Girls, during Hollywood's next J.D.-movie cycle. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Joy Reese, Warren Burr, (more)
- 1944
Three tuneful Texas Rangers take off after a murderous gang of land-grabbers who have been buying ranches from bereaved widows. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1944
Also known as Boss of Rawhide, this "Texas Rangers" western top-bills Dave O'Brien, James Newill, and Guy Wilkerson. This time, the three Rangers are called upon to solve a series of rangeland murders. The victims were all ranchers, and it looks as though the same gang was responsible for all the killings. Our heroes suspect that the gang leader is a "respectable" citizen-but who is it? Pepping up the proceedings (or slowing them down, depending upon one's point of view) are a couple of songs, adequately warbled by the stars. The leading lady is Nell O'Day, an accomplished horsewoman who should have had a western series of her own. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dave "Tex" O'Brien, Guy Wilkerson, (more)
In this western, the Texas Rangers ride out after "The Whispering Skull" an enigmatic killer who murders his victims in the dead of night. Following the death of a town sheriff, one of the Rangers begins posing as the phantom. This forces the real killer to reveal his identity. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1944
Based on the comic book by the same name, the hero takes on a crazed scientist who creates deadly machines for his own villainous schemes. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi
- 1944
Teen-Age is another "exposé" film of the 1940s, cheaply made but widely distributed. In the guise of a warning against wartime juvenile delinquency, the film offers the exploitational tale of a bunch of wild, unsupervised kids at large in a small community. With nothing but time on their hands, the young protagonists become involved with petty theft, inevitably leading to some pretty serious consequences. Veteran actors Herbert Heyes, Wheeler Oakman and Clare McDowall lend some professionalism to the proceedings, while there are a few potential "faces" in the youthful supporting cast, notably Russell Horton and Ted Stanhope. When originally released, Teen-Age was accompanied by a live lecturer, offering an "authoritative" discussion on delinquency before handing out pamphlets at a dollar each. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Herbert Heyes, Wheeler Oakman, (more)
In this western, the Texas Rangers take on a shyster who is trying to bilk a family of their money after he learns that an oil company thinks their land may contain the black gold. The Rangers tell the family about the oil before the lawyer and his gang can take it from them. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1944
No, the "Pinto Bandit" doesn't go around stealing beans. This is another of PRC's "Texas Rangers" series, starring Dave O'Brien and Jim Newell. This time, the Rangers' principal foe is a masked desperado. Evidently, the villain's main purpose in life is to disrupt the mail service between two frontier communities. With O'Brien and Newell on the job, rest assured that the settlers will get their bills and circulars on time. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- James Newill, Dave "Tex" O'Brien, (more)
- 1944
The Texas Rangers ride again in the PRC oater Gunsmoke Mesa. As in earlier series entries, the rangers are played by Jim Newill (the handsome one), Dave O'Brien (the athletic one) and Guy "Panhandle" Wilkerson (the funny one). The villain is the appropriately named Henry Black (Jack Ingram), guardian of the young heir to a gold mine. Since Black was responsible for orphaning said heir, he has no reservations about knocking off the kid as well-but the Texas Rangers aren't about to let that happen. Better photographed than most PRC westerns, Gunsmoke Mesa was lensed by the prolific and efficient Ira H. Morgan. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dave "Tex" O'Brien, Guy Wilkerson, (more)
- 1944
In this western, a gang of evil cattle rustlers wreaks havoc upon a community of ranchers. Three Texas Rangers come to the rescue and find out the ring leader works as a local ranch foreman. The bad guys do not escape the trusty Rangers. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
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