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INVISIBLE STRIPES (Warner Brothers, 1939) directed by Lloyd Bacon, stars George Raft in his second film for the studio following his comeback success opposite James Cagney in EACH DAWN I DIE (1939). Though he and Cagney could have been reunited in another tough-guy story either playing honest working men or a couple of gangsters, Raft gets the pleasure of teaming up with another movie tough guy, Humphrey Bogart. Though Bogart was basically a contract player either in leading or secondary parts, the one whose name comes above his own in the credits is William Holden. Following his breakthrough success in GOLDEN BOY (Columbia, 1939) as opposed to Bogart who's been working steadily in movies since 1930 one would think Bogart's name should be over Holdens. With this being Raft's movie, Bogart comes secondary in near equal status to Raft. Though Raft and Bogart work so well together it's a shame they weren't paired more frequently. Yes, they did work together again in THEY DRIVE BY NIGHT (1940) playing truck driving brothers. That's where their union on screen ends. With Raft heading the cast, Bogart would soon reach the top of his game starring in two 1941 classics (HIGH SIERRA and THE MALTESE FALCON), to no longer play second fiddle to anybody for the duration of his star status career. As for INVISIBLE STRIPES, there's one guess who plays the bad guy here.

The plot summary revolves around two convicts having served time in Sing-Sing Prison. As more prisoners are coming in, Cliff Taylor (George Raft) and Chuck Martin (Humphrey Bogart) are heading out. Before leaving, each gets their individual exit interviews with the Warden (Moroni Olson). Cliff has learned his lesson and intends on going straight in life while Chuck, having served five years, prepares to go back to his life with Molly Daniels (Lee Patrick), the girl he loves, resuming his life in crime. Going their separate ways, Cliff returns to his tenement district of New York where he reunites himself with his mother (Flora Robson) and kid brother, Tim (William Holden). Tim is in love with Peggy (Jane Bryan) and wants to marry her but has an attitude towards life by which Cliff intends to straighten out before ending up in prison like himself. Because he's wearing "invisible Stripes" and by law having to tell his proposed supervisor that he is an ex-con. By doing this, Cliff either loses his job, gets harassed by workers or simply refused employment. Even Sue (Margot Stevenson), whom he loves, decides to break their engagement, not wanting to marry an ex-con. Desperation sets in when Cliff acquires employment set for teenage boys. Though accepted by Tommy McNeil (Frankie Thomas), Jimmy (Leo Gorcey) and others, a robbery for which he is innocent leads to Cliff's arrest and questioning, making Tim even angrier with tough to handle. Wanting Tim to fulfill his dream in owning a garage, Cliff plans on finding himself a better job to use his earnings to help him out, but not without consequence. Other members of the cast include Paul Kelly, Henry O'Neill, Marc Lawrence, William Haade, Tully Marshall and John Hamilton.

Though not as classic as some earlier crime capers of the decade, INVISIBLE STRIPES is both interesting for its casting and storyline lifted from the book by Warden Lewis E. Lawes. It avoids the usual cliche of prison breakouts in favor of life on the outside after serving time and how things have changed not only for them but around them. In between some dramatics, Raft gets his chance to jitterbug dance to "Sweet Georgia Brown." William Holden performance makes one wonder how the Tim character might have been handled had he been played by other contract players as John Payne or John Garfield. Holden's take pf his attitude towards the world can be annoying at times. Since the studio was slowly working on what suits him best, it wouldn't be until the 1950s when Holden peaked as one of the most important actors in the industry. Flora Robson does well as the mother while Jane Bryan, given little to do, makes her scenes count thanks to her charming presence that makes INVISIBLE STRIPES worth viewing. An exciting climax makes up for whatever weakness the story might endure for some.

Once shown frequently on commercial television late shows presentations prior to the 1980s, INVISIBLE STRIPES is often broadcast on Turner Classic Movies and available on DVD for fans of either George Raft or Humphrey Bogart or both. (***)

RAINBOW VALLEY (Monogram Studios, 1935), directed by Robert N. Bradbury, stars John Wayne in his thirteenth Lone Star poverty-row western. Using the same leading players (Lucille Browne, George Hayes, Leroy Mason, Buffalo Bill Jr., Bert Dillard and Frank Ball) and same director from Wayne's previous effort of TEXAS TERROR (1935), RAINBOW VALLEY is another one of those under one-hour quickies that looks like it was filmed and put together within a few hours yet gets by as second feature entertainment.

With plot summary put together after watching it on DVD, the story starts off with John Martin (John Wayne) paying a storekeeper (Lafe McKee) $210 for his new western attire, gun and horse, along with asking directions on how to get to Rainbow Valley. John rides out sixty miles to his destination. Before arriving to Rainbow Valley, he helps the stranded George Hale (George Hayes) needing water for his overheated jalopy he names "Nugget Nell." A mail carrier by profession along with bags of gold for the miners to take to the post office, John saves the day once more for George (whom he affectionately calls "Old Timer") from being trailed and held up by four pursuing bandits shooting behind him. Arriving at Rainbow Valley, John makes the acquaintance of George's niece, Eleanor (Lucille Browne), the local postmistress. He immediately gets on her bad side when suspecting Morgan Rogers (Leroy Mason), whom Eleanor admires, as part of the gang trying to rob her Uncle George. John soon confronts another man he recognized in the attempted robbery but without proper identification from George, he's forced to let him go. With Rainbow Valley being terrorized by renegades and in desperate need of law and order, Mr. Powell (Frank Ball), an important man in town, after witnessing the way John handles himself in tough situations, chooses this young engineer by profession him to help supervise with the completion of the road construction to town. All goes well until the arrival of Austin "Butch" Galt (Buffalo Bill Jr.) and Morgan stirring up trouble to discredit John's good name among his workers. Other members of the cast include Bert Dillard (Spike). Though Lloyd Ingraham is credited, he is not seen in the final print,

With John Wayne and George Hayes teaming up together for the twelfth time certainly make a grand team. For RAINBOW VALLEY, Hayes is slightly bearded, a beard that would become his trademark for his beloved character later identified and credited as "Gabby" Hayes. Reportedly clocked at 52 or 55 minutes, it's obvious the 49-minute edition of RAINBOW VALLEY is missing opening material, based on existing picture stills with Wayne and Lloyd Ingraham identified for this production not available in circulating prints. My guess is when RAINBOW VALLEY was sold to television dating back to the 1950s, it was cut down to make room for commercial breaks to fit it into its one-hour time slot and never restored. Unlike the other Wayne/Lone Star westerns (1933-1935), RAINBOW VALLEY doesn't seem to have been televised on public television since then, considering how the others turned up after a long hiatus in the 1980s decades later on cable television as American Movie Classics or Turner Classic Movies. Though a public domain title available on home video and DVD, RAINBOW VALLEY can be seen on YouTube or found on-demand from MGM Plus Channel. Regardless of handicaps no underscoring, lackluster production and unconvincing fistfights, all this is either overlooked or forgiven thanks to another likeable presence of the youthful John Wayne. (**)

TEXAS TERROR (Lone Star Productions for Monogram Pictures, 1935), written and directed by Robert N. Bradbury, stars John Wayne in reportedly his twelfth quickie western (52 minutes) for the studio, and one of his more interesting regardless of low-budget scale and no underscoring for mood setting and pacing. Wayne continues to use his first name to his character as before. As usual, he gives another commendable performance.

Set in an unknown town, the story introduces John Higgins (John Wayne) as sheriff, thanks to the assistance and upbringing of his fatherly figure and best friend, Dan Matthews (Frank Ball). Matthews stops by to pay John a visit, telling him about wanting to restock and repair his "Lazy M" ranch for his daughter, Beth, set to arrive from the East to live with him next year. On his way to King City after withdrawing his savings from the bank, three men rob the Wells Fargo Express Company riding off with the stolen money. Hiding out in the home of Matthews outside of town, he is gunned down by one of the robbers. With Sheriff John in pursuit, a shootout ensues before the robbers get away. As John enters the cottage, he finds Matthews dead. Believing he shot him by mistake, John withdraws is position as sheriff, leaving the job to his predecessor, Ed Williams (George Hayes) and lives a secluded life as a lone prospector. During the course of a year, John forms a lifelong friendship with Chief Black Eagle and his tribe after carrying his injured son with a broken leg miles back to his home. John later assists incognito the visiting Beth Matthews (Lucille Browne) by rescuing her from being held up after bandits after killing off her driver. The now clean-shaven John is hired by Sheriff Ed to work as foreman of the ranch now belonging to Miss Matthews. As time passes on, Beth begins to fall in love with John until Joe Dickson (Leroy Mason) says something incriminating to change her mind about him. Other members of the cast include Fern Emmett (Aunt Martha Hubbard); Buffalo Bill Jr. ("Blackie" Martin); Bert Dillard ("Red" Martin); John Ince (Bob); Henry Roquemore (Square Dance Caller) and Jack Duffy (Jake Abernathy). Sources fail to mention or credit the name of the Indian actor who played John's good friend, Chief Black Eagle.

Considering this being a fast-paced production that really gets down to basics the moment it starts, with robbery and horse chasing sequence all under five minutes, TEXAS TERROR is certainly one of those little westerns that needs to be seen more than once. Not that the story elements are hard to follow, but mainly to capture certain elements of interest that may get missed the first time around. Quite typical and standard for its time, TEXAS TERROR is more of interest today for the youthful presence of John Wayne from cowboy matinee hero to major box-office attraction of many genres, especially westerns, that serves him best.

Interestingly, Wayne's next Lone Star Production, RAINBOW VALLEY (1935) featured much of the same cast as TEXAS TERROR (John Wayne, Lucille Brown, George Hayes, Leroy Mason, Buffalo Bill Jr., Bert Dillard and Frank Ball). It's no sequel but different story and character portrayals making it worth seeking out.

Available on video cassette and DVD format, cable television broadcasts to TEXAS TERROR include American Movie Classics (1996-2000), Encore Westerns and MGM Plus. Beware of slightly shorter prints with new intrusive underscoring that takes away from the enjoyment of this little western gem. (**1/2)