Search - The Star Packer/Blue Steel on DVD

B Westerns forever!

Robert S. Clay Jr. | St. Louis, MO., USA | 04/23/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Back in the days when the West was really wild, U. S. Marshal John Travers (John Wayne) battles a criminal mastermind known only as "The Shadow." (Take note: no Lamont Cranston). Filmed in glorious B&W, "Star Packer" is a tight little action-adventure flick from Lone Star Pictures. Although the movie is primitive and dated, the action races along and doesn't disappoint the viewer. Seeing a young, curly-haired John Wayne before he reached major stardom is amusing. Yakima Canutt is around as Wayne's faithful Indian companion, "Yak." In fact, Wayne rides a white horse, and with Yak in tow, it all begins to resemble a forerunner of The Lone Ranger. George Hayes, in his pre-"Gabby" days, has a nefarious role. Wayne recruits the honest cowboys to fight the outlaw gang. In a Cochise moment, they shed their Stetson's and wrap their heads in white towels to distinguish friend from foe when the shootin' starts. A unique moment in Western film history. The running time of less than one hour is a virtue. There is no time for the script to drag its feet. Good second feature stuff. ;-)"