Richard Martin Movies
Though he rose to movie fame as Chito Jose Gonzalez Bustamente Rafferty, the heavily accented Irish-Mexican saddle-pal of RKO western star Tim Holt, actor Richard Martin was neither Irish nor Mexican. Born in Washington State, Martin grew up in a predominantly Mexican neighborhood in West Hollywood where he became adept at imitating the Latino speech patterns of his playmates. Signed to an RKO contract in 1943, he created the Chito Rafferty character in the big-budget war picture Bombardier. He went on to comical-sidekick assignments opposite such cowboy heroes as James Warren and Robert Mitchum, then was dropped by RKO in 1945 when the studio temporarily disbanded its "B"-western unit. Martin briefly ran a Hollywood restaurant before returning to films as the all-American leading man of the Universal serial The Mysterious Mr. M (1946). He came back to RKO in 1947, reviving Chito Rafferty in the studio's Tim Holt western series, which lasted until 1952. Typecast in Hispanic roles, Richard Martin had trouble finding work after the cessation of the Holt series, so he bade adios to Hollywood and became a successful insurance salesman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this martial arts actioner, a vengeful government agent seeks the gangster who slew his partner. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gary Daniels, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, (more)
- 1959
Set in a small Arizona town in the 1870s, Four Fast Guns is a subpar Western about Sabin (James Craig), a man who takes on an unlikely tyrant in an effort to restore normal life to the townspeople. Sabin himself has been falsely accused of murder, though misconduct runs in the family -- his brother Johnny (Brett Halsey) is an outlaw. An invalid runs the local saloon and has parleyed his physical infirmity into an excuse to get away with a brutal hold over the town. Sabin challenges his authority, so the saloon-keeper sends one hired gun after another to kill him off. No one succeeds, but then the fourth gunman shows up -- Sabin's outlaw brother -- and the two siblings are forced into a fatal confrontation. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Craig, Martha Vickers, (more)
- 1957
Drugs are the focus of the exploitation film set in the Los Angeles harbor. The plot centers around a villain's evil scheme to raid a ship and abscond with surplus war drugs. To help him get backers for the heist, he begins showing criminals a slide show depicting his scheme. A young woman accompanies one of the leader's gang members as he takes the slide show to various gangsters. The woman falls in love with an ambulance driver and gets him involved in the scheme. During the actual caper, the mastermind is killed, the drugs are safe, and the driver and the woman walk away from the whole thing unscathed. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Russell, June Blair, (more)
- 1952
It's always a pleasure to see ace western director Leslie Selander in action, and Riders of Vengeance is no exception. Originally released as The Raiders, this Universal programmer stars Richard Conte as a miner who leads an expedition of his compatriots to the California Gold Rush. Crooked Morris Ankrum sets about to cheat Conte and his friends out of their claims. The good guys stage a counteroffensive with the help of Mexican miner Richard Martin. Viveca Lindfors once more brings intelligence and charm to a two-dimensional role. Watch for future Gunsmoke star Dennis Weaver as "Logan". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Conte, Viveca Lindfors, (more)
- 1952
Director Leslie Selander pulls out all the stops in this the last of RKO's Tim Holt Westerns. A wounded parolee, Carver (Walter Reed), hires stagecoach operators Tim and Chito (Richard Martin) to drive him to Mexico. En route, they encounter Emily (Joan Dixon), the local schoolmarm, who recognizes Carver as the man who embezzled 100,000 dollars from her father, a banker who chose suicide rather than face disgrace. But there are plenty others aware of Carver's secret, including his unscrupulous lawyer, Bronson (John Dehner); his greedy girlfriend, Roxie (Dorothy Patrick); and Roxie's newest beau, Dave Warwick (Clayton Moore). Soon everyone is holed up in a deserted roadhouse -- whose owner, Burley (Michael Mark), has mysteriously disappeared. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Holt, Joan Dixon, (more)
- 1952
Tim Holt's first western release for 1952 was Trail Guide. Tim (Holt) and his perennial saddle pal Chito Rafferty (Richard Martin) are hired to shepherd a wagon train to Arizona. Our Heroes end up protecting the travellers from a vicious ban of land-usurpers. Halfway through the proceedings, Tim and Chito are framed for murder and slated for a "necktie party," but things turn out in their favor. Trail Guide introduced a new leading lady to the RKO fold, Linda Douglas. Though the Tim Holt series had once been a cash cow for RKO, Trail Guide ended up $50,000 in the red, indication enough that the era of the "B"-western was drawing to a close. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Holt, Linda Douglas, (more)
- 1952
At the time of its release the RKO "B"-western Road Agent raised eyebrows, not because of its violent content, but because of its astonishing lack of violence. Saddle pals Tim (Holt) and Chito (Richard Martin) find out the hard way that usurious Milo Brand (Mauritz Hugo) is charging exorbitant rates to the local ranchers for access to a private road. As a means to thwart the profiteer, Tim and Chito pose as bandits, the better to rob from the rich (Brand) and give to the poor (Everybody Else). The feminine interest is handled by Noreen Nash and Dorothy Patrick, while the very mild villainy is handled by Bob Wilke and Tom Tyler. Road Agent was slightly more successful financially than Tim Holt's first 1952 western Trail Guide, but not enough to elicit cheers at the RKO stockholder's meeting. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Holt, Noreen Nash, (more)
- 1952
Tim Holt and Richard Martin ride again in the RKO budget western Target. The story is nothing new: Tim (Holt) and Chito (Martin) take on a band of criminals who've been flummoxing local ranchers out of their land. The film's novelty value is the presence of a lady marshal, played by Linda Douglas. In typical 1950s fashion, of course, Douglas isn't quite as effective at keeping the peace as her two male co-stars. The supporting cast of Target is comprised of the usual western regulars, including Walter Reed, Lane Bradford and Riley Hill; also appearing in a sizeable role is John Hamilton, best-known as Perry White on TV's Superman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Holt, Linda Douglas, (more)
- 1951
Saddle Legion stars RKO Radio's resident cowboy hero Tim Holt. As in most of his postwar vehicles, Holt is teamed with Irish-Mexican laugh-spinner Chito Rafferty (Richard Martin). This time, Dave (Holt) and Chito come to the aid of their boss, rancher Fred Warren (Cliff Clark). It seems that crooked cattle inspector Regan (Robert Livington) has falsely claimed that Warren's livestock is infected with disease, the better to steal the cows and bulls for himself and sell them for a tidy profit south of the Border. Our Heroes strive to foil Regan with the help of lady doctor Ann Rollins (Dorothy Malone). Featured in the cast of Saddle Legion is Mexican actress Movita, better known as the first wife of Marlon Brando. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Holt, Dorothy Malone, (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)
- 1951
Pistol Harvest starred RKO's "house cowboys" Tim Holt and Richard Martin. In this one, the two heroes are accused of killing their boss. They are saved from the hangman's noose when two other guys are arrested, but Holt feels as though justice is still not being served. On their own, Holt and Chito set about to track down the genuine killer. Joan Dixon, whose previous RKO endeavor was the tense film noir Roadblock, trods a more virtuous path as Tim Holt's romantic interest. Pistol Harvest was budgeted at $93,000, an indication that even a "B" western was a costly proposition in the postwar years. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Holt, Joan Dixon, (more)
- 1951
Tim Holt comes to the aid of a young telegrapher wrongly accused of murder in this average western from RKO. The telegrapher, Dave Collins Ross Elliott, is released on parole and on his way west when hi-jacked by the same gang that caused his imprisonment in the first place. Gang leader Turk Thorne (John Dehner) needs Dave's help in an upcoming train heist but before he can "persuade" the youngster to go along with the scheme, Dave is rescued by cowpokes Tim Holt and Chito Rafferty (Richard Martin). But Thorne does not give up that easily and soon Dave is accused of killing the local telegrapher (Paul E. Burns), a crime actually committed by Thorne himself. Tim believes in Dave's innocence, however, and agrees to help him by setting a trap for Thorne and his henchmen. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Holt, Joan Dixon, (more)
- 1951
Not to be confused with the 1929 film The Overland Telegraph, this Western from director Lesley Selander stars Tim Holt as a cowboy appropriately named Tim Holt. In order to hinder the construction of a new telegraph line for his own financial gain, scheming shopkeeper Paul Manning (George Nader) enlists the assistance of a gang of outlaws led by Brad Roberts (Hugh Beaumont in one of his many pre-Leave it to Beaver roles). Unfortunately for the bad guys, Holt and his cohort Chito Rafferty (Richard Martin) sense that there's foul play afoot and embark on an investigation. But Holt and Rafferty run into some trouble of their own in the form of Terry Muldoon (Gail Davis), the daughter of the owner of the telegraph company. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Holt, Gail Davis, (more)
- 1950
Western star Tim Holt and director Lesley Selander continued their collaboration with Law of the Badlands. Holt and his cohort Chico Rafferty (Richard Martin) are lawmen who pose as desperadoes. The plan is to infiltrate a vicious gang of counterfeiters who've been flooding the frontier with funny money. But when Holt's former girl friend Joan Dixon shows up in town, the jig is up. Law of the Badlands was the least expensive Tim Holt western since the mid-1940s, but thanks to postwar inflation the film lost money--as did most of Holt's subsequent RKO B pictures. ~ 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
Tim Holt and Richard Martin, RKO's resident western good guys, are back in Dynamite Pass. Usually cast as cowpunchers, Holt and Martin are construction workers Ross and Chito this time out. Someone is trying to prevent honest road builder Dan (Regis Toomey) from completing his job, and that someone is his unscrupulous rival Thurber (John Dehner), the owner of a profitable toll road. Had Thurber waited a few years, he could have found a job on the Pennsylvania turnpike. As it stands, however, Ross and Chito must stop Thurber before he destroys the road project permanently. Dynamite Pass is distinguished by better-than-usual performances from all concerned. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Holt, Lynne Roberts, (more)
- 1950
For a Tim Holt western, Border Treasure is surprisingly light on action scenes. The plot is the main consideration, as Ed Porter (Holt) and his saddle pal Chito Rafferty (Richard Martin) set about collecting money for an earthquake relief fund. The donations are stolen by the villains, whereupon Porter and Rafferty take chase. They nearly ride into an ambush, but are saved by Stella (Jane Nigh), the repentant girlfriend of one of the outlaws. Before the film's six reels have run their course, Our Heroes find themselves being accused of the robbery. Tim Holt fans won't believe that for a minute! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1950
Arizona rodeo champs Dave Saunders (Tim Holt) and Chito Rafferty (Richard Martin) head for Oro Grande, CO, to witness the marriage of their friend Tug Bailey (William Phipps) to Easterner Jane Whipple (Elaine Riley). But Bailey, a successful prospector, is in trouble with claim jumpers, notably Gypsy Avery (Veda Ann Borg) and her husband John (Robert Shayne), who don't shy away from murder to get what they want. Although accused of a killing actually committed by Gypsy and on the run from the law, Dave and Chito pin down the Avery gang near Tug's claim and the score is settled in a final shootout. The Rider From Tucson was filmed at Lone Pine, CA. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Holt, Elaine Riley, (more)
- 1950
Westerner Tim Holt and his sidekick Richard Martin are hired to act as border guards on the Rio Grande. This being a modern western (more or less), Holt is obliged to keep insurrectionists from smuggling machine guns into Mexico. The villainy this time around is in the grubby but formidable hands of Douglas Fowley and Tom Tyler; Cleo Moore, voluptuous leading lady of many a Hugo Haas "B" melodrama, is also around to rouse Holt's interest south of the border. A very modest western, Rio Grande Patrol has had its virtues blown all out of proportion by devotees of "cult" director Lesley Selander. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1949
Tim Holt's second RKO western for 1949 was Mysterious Desperado. Once more teamed with Richard Martin as his saddle pal Chito, Tim rides into a sleepy California town, where Chito hopes to claim his uncle's estate. Tim decides to stick around and investigate when it turns out that Uncle was murdered. The number-one suspect is the victim's son (Edward Norris), but if this were true, the movie would be over in 15 minutes. A clue: when in doubt, always look towards the Evil Land Developers. Director Leslie Selander also contributed to the screenplay of Mysterious Desperado. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Holt, Richard Martin, (more)
- 1949
Texas Rangers Tim Holt and Richard Martin are dispatched to halt a gang of masked outlaws terrorizing the frontier. Infiltrating the gang, Holt and Martin learn that the raiders are operating altruistically, robbing from the rich to give to the poor. The real villain, it seems, is the local banker (Frank Wilcox), who is mortgaging the local ranchers out of existence. Holt convinces masked-raider leader Marjorie Lord that it's best to let the law take his course, then rides out to bring the banker to task for his misdeeds. Masked Raiders moves along with the smooth expertise audiences of 1949 had come to expect from RKO's Tim Holt western series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Holt, Richard Martin, (more)
- 1949
Another of RKO's profitable Tim Holt western series, Rustlers costars Holt with his popular sidekick Richard Martin (as Chico Rafferty). Holt and Martin are arrested by sheriff Harry Shannon, who accuses them of being members of a vicious rustling gang. Actually Shannon is the head of the operation; he hopes to throw suspicion off himself by framing Our Heroes for the crime. Holt and Martin bust out of jail, prove their innocence, and fix Shannon's wagon. Rustlers was one of a handful of Holt westerns directed by Lesley Selander, later a minor favorite of auteur critics. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Holt, Richard Martin, (more)
- 1949
While searching for a stolen gold shipment, partners in a stagecoach line attempt to keep crooked ranch hands from stealing their employer's land. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Holt, Richard Martin, (more)
- 1949
RKO's resident cowboy stars Tim Holt and Richard "Chito" Martin were back in 1949's Riders of the Range. Hired on as ranch hands, Kansas (Holt) and Chito come to the aid of ranch owner Dusty (Jacqueline White), whose brother (Robert Clarke) has been led astray by a crooked gambler (Reed Hadley). As had happened in so many previous RKO oaters, Our Heroes are accused of murder, but manage to break jail in time to collar the real culprit. No, the "mystery" villain isn't the gambler, since he was the murder victim (without giving away the ending, here's a clue: keep an eye on that former cowboy hero who in this film heads the supporting cast). Riders of the Range was the first Tim Holt vehicle to lose money for RKO, an indication of the audience erosion caused by that upstart TV medium. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Holt, Richard Martin, (more)
- 1949
The siblings of the title are Tim Holt and Steve Brodie. Holt is the good guy (after all, the film was part of Holt's RKO western series), while younger brother Brodie is the hotheaded troublemaker. The film offers a wealth of fistfights, gun duels and pursuits on horseback, as well as a dash of romance. Holt doesn't get a leading lady--at least not at first--but Brodie's fiancee is played by newcomer Virginia Cox. Brothers in the Saddle was the third Tim Holt vehicle to be directed by western specialist (and future minor cult figure) Lesley Selander. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
