4.0 out of 5 stars
"Tex Ritter Series ... Enemy of the Law (1945)... Poverty Row", January 18, 2009
This review is from: Enemy of the Law (DVD)
Poverty Row presents "ENEMY OF THE LAW" (7 May 1945) (63 mins/B&W) -- Tex Ritter was an American country singer and actor --- From his very first film in 1936 through some of his best loved singing Westerns of the mid '40s, he gave the American public some of the best B-Westerns of that era --- Ritter also worked on various radio programs --- In 1932, he starred on the WOR Radio show The Lone Star Rangers, which was New York's first broadcast western --- He sang songs and told tales of the Old West --- Ritter wrote and starred in Cowboy Tom's Roundup on WINS Radio in New York in 1933 --- This daily children's cowboy radio program aired over three stations on the East Coast for three years --- These shows marked the beginning of Ritter's popularity in radio, which paved the way for his upcoming singing career --- He also performed on the radio show WHN "Barndance" and sang on NBC Radio --- He appeared in several radio dramas, including CBS's "Bobby Benson's Adventures" and "Death Valley Days".
Ritter began recording for American Record Company (Columbia Records) in 1933 --- His first released recording was "Goodbye Ole Paint.", also recorded "Rye Whiskey" at that label. In 1935, he signed with Decca Records, where he recorded his first original recordings, "Sam Hall" and "Get Along Little Dogie."
In 1936, he moved to Los Angeles, California --- His motion picture debut was in "Song Of The Gringo" (1936) for Grand National Pictures --- He starred in twelve movies for Grand National, "B" grade Westerns, love that art deco "Grand National Pictures" animated clock logo at the start and finish of the movie --- Which included "Tex Rides with the Boy Scouts" (1937), and "Trouble In Texas" (1937) co-starring Rita Hayworth (then known as Rita Cansino). (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Under the production staff of:
Harry L. Fraser - Director / Screenwriter
Arthur Alexander - Producer
John H. Greenhalgh, Jr. - Cinematographer
Lee Zahler - Musical Direction/Supervision
Holbrook Todd - Editor
Our story line and plot, To get the money hidden by Wild Charlie Gray (Charles King) before he was caught, the Rangers Tex Haines (Tex Ritter) and Dave Wyatt (Dave O'Brien) send Perkins (Guy Wilkerson) to prison to become his friend --- When the two get out, Perkins is unaware that Gray has printed the map to the loot on the bottom of his foot --- As a studio Grand National Pictures only lasted for a couple of years -- Seeing what success Republic had with Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, they signed Tex Ritter from The Grand Old Opry as their singing cowboy --- The production values aren't as good as Republic oaters, but very original within the framework of B-Westerns -- Some key character B-Western actors show up for this oater Charles King, Jack Ingram, Ed Cassidy and Frank Ellis give this a run for the finish line.
the cast includes
Tex Ritter ... Tex Haines
White Flash ... Tex's Horse
Dave O'Brien ... Dave Wyatt
Guy Wilkerson ... Panhandle Perkins
Kay Hughes ... Ruby Lawson
Jack Ingram ... Steve Martin, Saloon Owner
Charles King ... Wild Charlie Gray
Frank Ellis ... Henchman Red
Kermit Maynard ... Henchman Mike
Henry Hall ... Sheriff
Ed Cassidy ... Texas Ranger Captain
Ben Corbett ... Man who finds sock
Jack Evans ... Barfly
Karl Hackett ... Dr. Carey
BIOS:
Tex Ritter (aka: Woodward Maurice Ritter)
Date of Birth: 12 January 1905 - Murvaul, Texas
Date of Death: 2 January 1974 - Nashville, Tennessee
TEX RITTER WESTERN DOUBLE FEATURE FROM VCI ENTERTAINMENT:
Vol 1: Marshal of Gunsmoke & Oklahoma Raiders (VCI #7204)
Vol.2: Arizona Days & Arizona Trail (VCI #7294)
Vol 3: Rollin' Plains & Song of the Gringo (VCI #7302)
CLASSIC WESTERNS - TEX RITTER FOUR FEATURE FROM VCI ENTERTAINMENT:
Marshal of Gunsmoke; Oklahoma Raiders; Arizona Days & Trouble In Texas
Hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guidelines 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), Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") and Trevor Scott (Down Under DVD Com) as they have rekindled my interest once again for Film Noir, B-Westerns and Serials --- looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '30s & '40s and B-Westerns --- order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment where there are plenty of copies available on DVD --- stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with musical adventure --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out Amazon or VCI where they are experts in releasing B-Westerns --- all my heroes have been cowboys!
Total Time: 63 mins on DVD ~ Poverty Row ~ (11/23/2004)
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