2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Above Average Oater..., February 25, 2004
Johnny Mack Brown plays Billy Donovan, an ammunition salesman and trick shooter (and he-man hero) who stumbles on the mystery of the "Desert Phantom". The Phantom is intent on driving Jean Halloran and her stepfather off their ranch, and has killed all of the ranch hands, cattle, and relatives who offer Jean support. Among the suspects is the evil Salizar and his gang, and as it turns out, Donovan has an old score to settle with him.
There are many low-budget westerns that were made in the 1930's, and most look pretty dry today. But "Desert Phantom" (1936) has a few things going for it that keep the movie from lacking all interest.
First, the mystery surrounding the "Phantom" is handled pretty well, and although you know he will be revealed as a cast member, his identity remains almost a mystery right up to the end. Only the most passing of cliche hints is offered to the audience early on.
Ted Adams's Salizar is suitably menacing, although the character degenerates into a bit of silliness when he decides to marry Jean (given the nature of Donovan's grudge, this element does not seem all that plausible). Also on hand is Nelson McDowell in a fine comedic turn as "Doc" Simpson, the town horse doctor.
The print used by Alpha Video is clearly from an inferior video source, with some serious kerning and other video errors. But for the price, and to have one of these old films to screen, one can probably not argue too much.
A remake of 1932's "Night Rider".
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5.0 out of 5 stars
"The King of B-Westerns & Serials...VCI Entertainment ~ Desert Phantom (1936)", January 3, 2006
VCI Entertainment and Supreme Pictures present "Desert Phantom" (1936) (digitally remastered), long running Johnny Mack Brown series turned out in the early '40s...the story line has Johnny Mack Brown giving us a better than average western plot at what he does best - fighting, riding and roping the heavies leaving us with pure enjoyment...our hero is a sharpshooter and ammunitions expert, Johnny Mack is hired by Sheila Bromley to stop the masked "Desert Phantom" and restore peace and harmony in their fair community...during the course of this western mystery, many suspects surface Ted Adams, Karl Hackett and even Hal Price, who are all on the Supreme Pictures payroll...is there a gold mine hidden somewhere on Bromley's ranch, can this be what all the evil doings is about...Ted Adams as Salazar the mexican bandit steals some of the thunder from the rest of the cast...but watch Charlie King, as always he has a few tricks up his sleeve...will the final showdown live up to all we expect from the Johnny Mack Brown Supreme feature film series...producer A.W. Hackel delivers another over the top film and gives the B-Western fans all the excitement and drama we long for.
Under director Roy S. Luby, producer Barney A. W. Hackel, screenplay by Edward Beverly Mann (short story/author) and adaptation by Earle Snell...the cast include Johnny Mack Brown (Billy Donovan), Sheila Bromley (Jean Halloran), Ted Adams (Salizar), Charles King (Dan/henchman), Karl Hackett (Tom Jackson), Hal Price (Jim Day), Nelson Mcdowell (Josiah 'Doc' Simpson)..........special footnote, actor Charles King was among the top five "Best of the Badmen" (according to a new book by Boyd Magers, Bob Nareau and Bobby Copeland)...King was a big man, but as agile as a cat during his fight scenes with Johnny Mack Brown, Buster Crabbe, Tex Ritter, The Rough Riders and Bob Steele...King appeared in 400 films and 350 were in sound including many cliffhangers...he was the heavy we loved to hate..........another special footnote, veteran character actor Ted Adams who loved playing the heavies and did a great mexican accent started his career in "Beyond the Law" (1930), "Hopalong Cassidy Enters" (1935), "Heart of the West" (1936), "Desert Phantom" (1936)...his convincing performances were outstanding in the B-Western series of Johnny Mack Brown and Bob Steele for producer A.W. Hackel, his evil and underhanded ways worked so well during the 186 films of his career...moving to television in "The Cisco Kid" (1950), "The Lone Ranger" (1950), "Cowboy G-Men" (1953), "The Texan" (1959), "And Wanted Dead or Alive" (1960)............meanwhile back to another great Johnny Mack B-Western provided by Supreme Pictures during their heyday of the early '30s.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
BIOS:
1. Johnny Mack Brown
Birth Date: 9/01/1904 - Dothan, Alabama
Died: 11/14/1974 - Woodland Hills, California (cardiac condition)
2. Charles King
Birth Date: 2/21/1895 - Hillsboro, Texas
Died: 5/07/1957 - Hollywood, California (cirrhosis of liver)
3. Ted Adams (Richard Theodore Adams)
Birth Date: 3/17/1890 - New York, New York
Died: 9/24/1973 - Los Angeles, California
4. S. Roy Luby (Director)
Birth Date: 8/08/1904 - New York, New York
Died: 8/19/1976 - Los Angeles, California
5. A.W. Hackel (Producer)
Birth Date: 12/18.1882 - Austria
Died: 10/22/1959 - Los Angeles, California
If you crave action, drama and plenty of adventure check out other western double features by Johnny Mack Brown:
JOHNNY MACK BROWN WESTERN DOUBLE FEATURES:
1. Raiders of San Joaquin/Law of the Range (VCI #7226)
2. Pony Post/Ragtime Cowboy Joe (VCI #7238)
3. Brand A Coward/Rogue of the Range (VCI #7244)
4. Guns in the Dark/Partner of the Trail (VCI $7260)
5. Bar Z Bad Men/Between Men (VCI #7282)
Ask Amazon.Com to carry the above five titles as they are not available on Amazon as of yet...you can order and pick up your copy now from VCI Entertainment...if you enjoyed "Desert Phantom" (1936), why not pick up other copies of Johnny Mack Brown Double Features.
Bobby J. Copeland's book on "Johnny Mack Brown: Up Close & Personal" is chuck full of answers to all the questions his fans had from early on...when you went to see him on the big screen, you got exactly what the marquee said...plenty of thrills, adventure and loaded with action...Johnny Mack was a natural for the western, his riding abilities and fight scenes were of the the same caliber as Buck Jones and Bob Steele...Johnny Mack sets the saddle better than Duke Wayne...seems Johnny got better with the more films he made and the scripts were always top notch...he was one of the best-liked people in films, what you saw on the screen is what he really was, a great human being...pickup your copy from Amazon or Empire Publishing both have this in stock.
Great job by VCI Entertainment for releasing the digital transfere with a clean, clear and crisp print...looking forward to more of the same from the '30s & '40s vintage...order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment, stay tuned once again with a top notch B-Western from VCI...just the way we like 'em!
Total Time: 60 min on DVD/VHS ~ (3/01/2001)
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