Copyright 31 August 1939 by Columbia Pictures Corp. No recorded New York opening. U.S. release: 23 August 1939. 6 reels. 59 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: An ex-Texas Ranger defeats rustlers on his girlfriend's ranch.
NOTES: A remake of The Revenge Rider (1935) which starred Tim McCoy.
COMMENT: A very interesting and agreeable western. The Sons of the Pioneers are always welcome and here they are in top-notch form. Their songs are very pleasing and they also contribute to the action as well as providing some gentle comic relief - full marks to the scriptwriter and director for exploiting their talents so well. It is interesting that the director uses these songs exclusively throughout the film and does not employ any other music at all. In fact, there is no background music as such, not even under the front and end titles. Instead, there is a startlingly effective use of sound effects: the rustle of a piece of paper, the click of a latch, the whittling of a piece of wood, fingers drumming on a table, a group of hoofbeats moving off followed by those of a lone rider.
In conjunction, the director frequently has the characters doing bits of business, and he uses close-ups most effectively. The action scenes are well-staged, and surprisingly, no doubles are used, even in the climactic fist fight in a burning cabin.
Charles Starrett and Iris Meredith turn in their usual capable portrayals, Dick Curtis makes splendid work of the villain (with delightfully dour-faced Eddie Cobb along in his usual type-casting as a loyal henchman), while Stanley Brown gives an excellent impersonation of a wavering gang member.
George Meehan's photography (with an assist from the laboratory) has a bright, dusty haze that is atmospherically in character. The screenplay has interesting dialogue and entertaining plot twists, though it is a bit short of on-camera action. But all in all, a commendable effort.
SYNOPSIS: An ex-Texas Ranger defeats rustlers on his girlfriend's ranch.
NOTES: A remake of The Revenge Rider (1935) which starred Tim McCoy.
COMMENT: A very interesting and agreeable western. The Sons of the Pioneers are always welcome and here they are in top-notch form. Their songs are very pleasing and they also contribute to the action as well as providing some gentle comic relief - full marks to the scriptwriter and director for exploiting their talents so well. It is interesting that the director uses these songs exclusively throughout the film and does not employ any other music at all. In fact, there is no background music as such, not even under the front and end titles. Instead, there is a startlingly effective use of sound effects: the rustle of a piece of paper, the click of a latch, the whittling of a piece of wood, fingers drumming on a table, a group of hoofbeats moving off followed by those of a lone rider.
In conjunction, the director frequently has the characters doing bits of business, and he uses close-ups most effectively. The action scenes are well-staged, and surprisingly, no doubles are used, even in the climactic fist fight in a burning cabin.
Charles Starrett and Iris Meredith turn in their usual capable portrayals, Dick Curtis makes splendid work of the villain (with delightfully dour-faced Eddie Cobb along in his usual type-casting as a loyal henchman), while Stanley Brown gives an excellent impersonation of a wavering gang member.
George Meehan's photography (with an assist from the laboratory) has a bright, dusty haze that is atmospherically in character. The screenplay has interesting dialogue and entertaining plot twists, though it is a bit short of on-camera action. But all in all, a commendable effort.