Search - Range Busters: Texas To Bataan (1942) / Tumbledown Ranch In Arizona (1941) on DVD

"Range Busters Series ... Double Features ... Monogram Pictu

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 12/26/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Monogram Pictures presents "TEXAS TO BATAAN/TUMBLEDOWN RANCH IN ARIZONA" (1941/1942) (116 mins/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) -- With the success of Republic's Three Mesquiteers, several forces came together around 1940 to develop a new 'trigger trio' for the screen --- The star was Ray 'Crash' Corrigan, a producer named George W. Weeks and Monogram Pictures --- With a character of his own name. Ray starred in 20 of the 24 films in this series between 1940 and 1943 --- The Range Busters was clearly a lower budget copy of the Mesquiteers --- Big, muscular Ray 'Crash' Corrigan was the lead, the second lead was John 'Dusty' King, a big band singer (Ben Bernie Orchestra) with a reasonably good baritone, who would vocalize a tune or two in each film --- And comic relief was in the hands of ventriloquist Max 'Alibi' Terhune (and his wise-cracking dummy Elmer --- Monogram would distribute the Range Busters but not be directly involved in the productions --- The deal gave Corrigan a substantial share of the film profits (in an interview years later, Ray said he received 50%).

The first film of this double feature - "TEXAS TO BATAAN" (16 October 1942) (56 mins/B&W)

Under the production staff of:
Robert Emmett Tansey - Director
George W. Weeks - Producer
Arthur Hoerl - Screenwriter
Robert C. Cline - Cinematographer
John King - Songwriter
Frank Sanucci - Musical Direction/Supervision
Roy Claire - Editor

The story line and plot, Our heroes Dusty (John King), Davy (David Sharpe) and Alibi (Max Terhune) members of the Range Busters are shipping horses to the Philippines --- There are spies all over this oater Cookie (Escolastico Baucin) the ranch cook is also looking over the horses for himself and Japan --- Thus not to outdone there is a German spy Miller (Guy Kingsford) who joins forces with Cookie --- One of my favorite B-Western villains Frank Ellis is also the contact going against our government --- The Range Busters have their work cut out for them, but never fear they're up for the task --- Interesting part of the film is they are honored by the U.S. Government just as the radio announces the December 7, 1941 of the Pearl Harbor bombing --- As the boys head for the nearest enlistment station --- This was the 17th of the 24 films in Monogram's "Range Buster" series --- "Texas to Bataan" represented stuntman David Sharpe's first appearance as a Range Buster, replacing Ray "Crash" Corrigan.

the cast includes:
John 'Dusty' King ... Dusty King
David Sharpe ... Davy Sharpe
Max Terhune ... Alibi Terhune (as Max 'Alibi' Terhune)
Elmer ... Elmer Sneezeweed - Alibi's dummy
Marjorie Manners ... Dallas Conroy
Steve Clark ... Tom Conroy
Budd Buster ... Tad Kelton
E. Baucin ... Cookie (the spy) (as Escolastico Baucin)
Frank Ellis ... Ken Richards (crooked rancher)
Kenne Duncan ... Army Captain Anders (as Kenneth Duncan)
Guy Kingsford ... Miller
Carl Mathews ... Truck henchman
Tex Palmer ... Truck henchman
Tom Steele ... Truck henchman
Al Ferguson ... Cafe henchman

BIOS:
1. John 'Dusty' King (aka: Miller McLeod Everson)
Date of Birth: 11 July 1909 - Cincinnati, Ohio
Date of Death: 11 November 1987 - San Diego, California

2. David Sharpe
Date of Birth: 2 February 1910 - St. Louis, Missouri
Date of Death: 30 March 1980 - Altadena, California (Lou Gehrig's disease)

3. Max Terhune
Date of Birth: 12 February 1891 - Anderson, Indiana
Date of Death: 5 June 1973 - Los Angeles, California

Second film of the this double feature - "TUMBLEDOWN RANCH IN ARIZONA" (20 April 1941) (60 mins/B&W)

Under the production staff of:
Roy S. Luby - Director
George W. Weeks - Producer
Milton M. Raison - Screenwriter
Robert C. Cline - Cinematographer
Frank Sanucci - Musical Direction/Supervision
Roy Claire - Editor

Our story line and plot, Our heroes Ray "Crash" Corrigan (Himself), Dusty (John King) and Alibi (Max Terhune) members of the Range Busters are now rodeo contestants --- When Johnny is knocked unconscious, travels back to their father's time and the Range Busters are soon thrown into a situation to get the Railroad right-of-way across Mother Slocum's ranch --- She is tricked into signing a release, the Range Busters find their job more difficult as the Sheriff is in with the crooks --- After vanquishing the evil doers, they all awaken under a tree, back in their own time --- Some of the best villains in this oater appear Quen Ramsey, James Craven and Jack Holmes.

the cast includes:
Ray Corrigan ... 'Crash' Corrigan (as Ray 'Crash' Corrigan)
John 'Dusty' King ... John King (prologue) & 'Dusty' King (flashback)
Max Terhune ... 'Alibi' Terhune (as Max 'Alibi' Terhune)
Elmer ... Elmer, Alibi's Dummy
Sheila Darcy ... Dorothy Jones
Marian Kerby ... Mother Rogers
Quen Ramsey ... Gallop
James Craven ... Dan Slocum
John Elliott ... Judge Jones
Jack Holmes ... Sheriff Nye
Steve Clark ... 'Shorty' Gill
Sam Bernard ... Nick, Cafe Owner
Rex Felker ... Rope Twirler under Credits

BIOS:
1. Ray 'Crash' Corrigan (aka: Raymond Benard)
Date of Birth: 14 February 1902 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Date of Death: 10 August 1976 - Brookings Harbor, Oregon

If you crave action, drama and plenty of adventure check out other western double features --- Ask Amazon.Com to carry the volumes as they are not available on Amazon as of yet --- you can order and pick up your copy now from VCI Entertainment

RANGE BUSTERS WESTERN DOUBLE FEATURE FROM VCI ENTERTAINMENT
VOL 1 -- WRANGLER'S ROOST & SADDLE MOUNTAIN ROUNDUP - (VCI #7243)
VOL.2 -- FUGITIVE VALLEY & THE KID'S LAST RIDE - (VCI #7349)

Hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guideslines for character identification), Chuck Anderson (Webmaster: The Old Corral/B-Westerns.Com), Boyd Magers (Western Clippings), Bobby J. Copeland (author of "Trail Talk"), Rhonda Lemons (Empire Publishing Inc) and Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") as they have rekindled my interest once again for B-Westerns and Serials --- If you're into the memories of B-Westerns with high drama, this is the one you've been anxiously waiting for --- please stand up and take a bow --- all my heroes have been cowboys!

Total Time: 116 min on VHS/DVD ~ Monogram Pictures ~ (10/28/2008)"