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)"