Paul Franklin Movies

In this pilot for a proposed "Red Ryder" television series, Allan Lane once again stars in the title role with Louis Lettieri as his young sidekick Little Beaver and Elizabeth Slifer as the Duchess. The latter is preparing the wedding between Perry Cochran (James Best) and Kathy Wayne (Sally Fraser), but Kathy calls off her engagement when Perry appears weak in a confrontation with town bully Bat Kilgore (William Henry). Kilgore, however, has been engaged in various dirty dealings and has earned the enmity of both Red Ryder and his aunt, the Duchess. With Perry's help, Red sets a trap for Kilgore and his henchman Prod (Gregg Barton), and Perry is eventually cleared of any accusation of cowardice. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide

Jim Bannon is back as enduring cowboy hero Red Ryder in Eagle-Lion's Roll, Thunder, Roll. As ever, Ryder's cohorts are Little Beaver and the Duchess, here played by "Little Brown Jug" (aka Don Kay Reynolds) and Marin Sais. This time, Ryder tries to prove that a series of cattle raids and ranch fires were not the handiwork of masked Mexican do-gooder El Conejo (I. Stanford Jolley). One of the genuine villains is played by Glenn Strange, a year or so after his impersonation of The Monster in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. While Jim Bannon's "Red Ryder" films made money, there were many "B"- western aficionados who felt that Bannon was an inadequate sub for previous screen "Ryders" Don Barry and Allan Lane; the late film-historian Don Miller suggested that Roll, Thunder Roll should have been renamed Stop, Bannon, Stop. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This Pine-Thomas actioner stars Robert Lowery as two-fisted forest ranger Don Bradley. Promoted to supervisor, Bradley finds his success hollow when his childhood sweetheart Kay (Ellen Drew) marries big-time gangster Steve Downey (Regis Toomey). In soon develops that Kay has wedded Downey against her will, and is being held prisoner in a remote mountain cabin. Bradley then dashes to the rescue, which culminates in a perilous car chase through dangerous mountain passages. Eddie Quillan provides comic relief as Bradley's pal Willie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this western, three Texas Rangers decide to do their part to save the world and join the Army, but before they can, they are sent to Alaska to destroy a secret Nazi operation involving a submarine refueling station. The outpost is located behind an impenetrable tangle of barbed wire. The rangers get a little help, and discover a traitor. Then to get through the wire, they start a cattle stampede and save the day. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

RKO Radio's Thundering Hoofs was the first of several Tim Holt westerns directed by "Hopalong Cassidy" veteran Lesley Selander. The plot is galvanized by the chicanery of crooked lawyer Farley (Archie Twitchell), who has been sent westward to purchase a stagecoach line on behalf of his boss. It soon becomes obvious that Farley intends to cheat both buyer and seller out of what is due them. Buyer's son Bill (Holt) joins forces with seller's daughter Nancy (Luana Walters) to foil the duplicitous attorney's scheme. Perennial Holt sidekick Ray Whitley sings only two songs in this outing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The taciturn William Elliott stars in this above-average entry in Columbia's "Wild Bill Hickock" B-Western series. Returning to town with Larry Armstrong (Richard Fiske), an old friend he has just saved from a lynch mob, Hickock learns that Mitch Carew (Dick Curtis), a prison parolee, has killed Dan Woodworth (John Dilson), and is now attempting to buy Woodworth's store as a front for his nefarious schemes. Larry, who is embittered about the low wages being paid by the area's ranchers, opts to join Carew's gang of thugs. Wild Bill, meanwhile, is courting Woodworth's Eastern-bred niece Ann (Luana Walters), but the girl scoffs at his old-fashioned western ways. Alarmed that Larry has been involved in a stage robbery, Bill arranges to meet his old friend. Their rendezvous turns hostile and as Wild Bill is about to leave, Stringer (Leroy Mason), one of Mitch's stooges, takes a shot at him. Returning fire, Bill accidentally shoots and kills Larry. Blaming himself for the death of his friend, Bill vows to bring Mitch to justice. But when Ann once again denounces her suitor's western code of ethics, Bill offers to give up his guns and become "a peaceful man." When he learns that Mitch is waiting for him, our hero straps on his guns once again and goes to meet his destiny. A shootout in the street finally ends Mitch's reign of terror. Realizing that he will never be able to forsake the code of the west, Bill bids Ann a fond farewell and leaves town. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide

Outlaws of the Pandhandle was the last of Charles Starrett's "formula" westerns for Columbia: hereafter, Starrett would be seen only in the guise of frontier medico Steven Monroe or masked do-gooder The Durango Kid. For the moment, however, the star is cast as Jim Endicott, bound and determined to put an end to the underhanded activities of gin-mill operator Faro Jack Vaughn (Norman Willis). The villain's strategy is to get the local cowpunchers tanked up on rotgut that they'll prove to be easy pickings for a gang of rustlers-and will be unable to complete work on a railroad spur which will bypass the outlaws' hideaway. In about as much time as it takes to explain the plot, Endicott settles Vaughn's hash with his fists. Frances Robinson subs for Charles Starrett's usual leading lady Iris Meredith. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Having previously portrayed Wild Bill Hickok on screen, cowboy hero Bill Elliot impersonates another famed frontiersman in The Return of Daniel Boone. Somehow finding himself in the 19th century west, Daniel Boone takes on a pair of clever crooks, one of whom (Walter Soderling) serves as mayor of a small prairie town. The despicable duo has been growing wealthy by imposing huge taxes on the local populace, but Boone ain't a-gonna stand for that much longer. The more amusing than usual comedy-relief subplot involves a pair of pretty twin girls, who manage to drive Boone's sidekick Cannonball (Dub Taylor) plumb loco. Director Lambert Hillyer, whose career in westerns extended all the way back to the William S. Hart days, wraps everything up in a tight 60 minutes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Columbia Pictures' resident cowboy ace, Charles Starrett, turns into a regular prairie Robin Hood in this fine Western directed by the veteran Lambert Hillyer that also features the singing group of Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers. The Pioneers are ranch hands working for Sam Lowry (Frank LaRue), who is expecting the return from Texas of his son, Jim (Starrett). That very same day, Sam is shot in the back and killed by Bixby (Steve Clark), who is in the employ of Mace Ballard (Kenneth MacDonald), a local cattle baron waging a war against the homesteaders. Ballard conveniently blames one of the nesters for the killing and to get to the truth, Jim dons the garb of the feared Durango Kid, a Texas outlaw with a social conscience. The marshal (Melvin Lang) appoints Jim deputy and assigns him to track down the Kid, a tricky situation that Jim handles in style. Desperate to cover his tracks, Ballard lures Jim/Durango into a trap, but the scheme backfires and the villain is made to confess. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide

Veteran second-unit director and stunt coordinator Ralph Cedar warmed the director's chair for the 1940 Charles Starrett oater West of Abilene. Frontiersman Tom Garfield (Starrett) and his pals endeavor to save their land from the clutches of slimy easterner Forsyth (Don Beddoe). The villain hires a bit of local muscle in the form of brutish Chris Matson (William Pawley), but he's no match for our hero. Stalwart Columbia contractee Bruce Bennett delivers a nicely understated performance as Garfield's brother, who is also the film's official romantic lead. The absence of such "regulars" as Iris Meredith, Dick Curtis and E. J. LeSaint and the presence of such comparative newcomers as heroine Marjorie Cooley and supporting player George Cleveland was indication enough that Columbia was endeavoring to remove the "rubber-stemp" onus from its Charles Starrett series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this western, a courageous rancher single-handedly tries to stop avaricious land grabbers from destroying important timberland. The bad-guys claim to do this so they can build a railroad, but the rancher isn't fooled. A New York newspaper reporter is, and she ends up publishing a glowing report about the villains' activities. She remains convinced that the crooks are honest until the rancher exposes their true nature. She then launches a new campaign to stop them. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Home on the Prairie finds Texas ranger Gene Autry trying to halt an anthrax epidemic. The villains are cattlemen Walter Miller and Gordon Hart, who've been knowingly transporting diseased cattle across the US-Mexico border. The bad guys try to pin the blame on female rancher June Storey, but Gene doesn't buy this subterfuge. Despite the unpleasantness of its storyline, Home on the Prairie is likeable entertainment, especially when Autry dismounts long enough to sing of couple of songs. Joining in on the tunefests are Gene's sidekick Smiley Burnette and a radio aggregation called the Rodeoliers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide