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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Ken Maynard Series ... Double Feature ... Poverty Row", February 27, 2009
Poverty Row Pictures presents "WHIRLWIND HORSEMAN/ALIAS-THE BAD MAN" (1931/1938) (123 mins/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) -- . Ken Maynard was an American motion picture stuntman and actor --- Born Kenneth Olin Maynard in Vevay, Indiana, he was an accomplished horseman --- As a young man, he performed in rodeos and was a trick rider with Buffalo Bill 's Wild West Show and a circus rider with Ringling Brothers --- During World War I, he served in the United States Army.
He first appeared in silent motion pictures in 1923 and in addition to acting also did stunt work --- Maynard became one of the first singing cowboys with Columbia Records --- Also one of the first to make a star out of his white stallion named "Tarzan", a half-Arabian, half-American Saddle horse. Maynard bought him in the mid-1920's --- With his white cowboy hat, fancy shirt, and pair of six-shooters, from the 1920s to the mid-1940s --- Maynard appeared in more than 90 films --- However, his alcoholism severely impacted his life and his career ended in 1944. He owned a small circus operation featuring rodeo riders but eventually lost it to creditors.
The significant amount of money he had earned vanished and he lived a desolate life in a rundown mobile home --- During these years, Maynard was supported by an unknown admirer - long thought to be Gene Autry --- More than 25 years after his last starring role, Maynard returned to two small parts in films in 1970 and 1972 --- Ken Maynard died penniless in 1973 at the Motion Picture Home in Woodland Hills, California. He was interred at Forest Lawn Cypress Cemetery in Cypress, California. Maynard's funeral is described in detail in James Horwitz's book They Went Thataway --- His brother, Kermit Maynard, was also an actor and stuntman
For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Ken Maynard has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6751 Hollywood Blvd -- (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
The first film of this double feature - "WHIRLWIND HORSEMAN" (29 April 1938) (57 mins/B&W)
Under the production staff of:
Robert F. Hill - Director
George H. Plympton - Screenwriter
Arthur Alexander - Producer
Max Alexander - Producer
William Hyer - Cinematographer
Charles Henkel Jr. - Film Editor
Our story line and plot, Ken Morton (Ken Maynard) and Happy (Billy Griffith), looking for their friend Cherokee (Budd Buster), run into an outlaw gang led by Ritter (Roger Williams) who have been terrorizing the ranchers --- Ken figures that one of the prominent citizens is the real boss and sets a trap to find him --- Ken Maynard had been a major star in the 1920's famous for his trick riding and daring subnetwork. Unfortunately he had a few too many personal demons and his career steadily declined during the 1930s. This film is from his final solo starring series. He would re-surface briefly over weight and as nasty as ever in the 40s in Monogram's "Trail Blazer" with Hoot Gibson and Bob Steele --- After that he basically "retired" from the screen.
the cast includes
Ken Maynard ... Ken Morton
Tarzan ... Tarzan, Ken's horse
Joan Barclay ... Peggy Radford
Billy Griffith ... Happy (as Bill Griffith)
Kenneth Harlan ... John Harper
Joseph W. Girard ... Jim Radford (as Joseph Girard)
Kenny Dix ... Lonesome
Glenn Strange ... Henchman Bull (as Glen Strange)
Roger Williams ... Henchman Ritter
Dave O'Brien ... Henchman Slade
Walter Shumway ... Sheriff Blake (as Walter Shamway)
Budd Buster ... Cherokee Jake (as Bud Buster)
Lew Meehan ... Henchman Hank
Jack Evans ... Barfly
Herman Hack ... Barfly
Bud Osborne ... Henchman Pete
Wally West ... Rider / Maynard Double
Second film of the this double feature - "ALIAS-THE BAD MAN" (15 July 1931) (66 mins/B&W)
Under the production staff of:
Phil Rosen - Director
Ford Beebe - Story
Earle Snell - Screenwriter
Phil Goldstone - Producer
Arthur Reed - Cinematographer
Martin G. Cohn - Film Editor
Our story line and plot, During the 1930-33 westerns Ken Maynard made for Tiffany (in between stints with Universal) are a consistent lot, full of action and wit. Many are off-the-wall comedy or horror elements (like Hoot Gibson, Maynard had a wild sense of humor!) --- ALIAS THE BADMAN is a gritty, straightforward western with Ken as a ranger posing as an outlaw who is posing as a ranger! (have you got that straight) --- Ken has a politically incorrect stuttering sidekick named "Repeater" (Irving Bacon), and silent star Frank Mayo are impressive as the crooked town boss who turns the local ranchers against each other --- But our fine Director Phil Rosen who is better-known for his later mysteries and crime films, but he directed many westerns in the early sound period, and he handles the unique Maynard mix of comedy and action and mystery quite well --- Maynard looks great here too, unlike in some of his later Columbia and Monogram films. An excellent entry in the Maynard series for Tiffany --- Ken Maynard had been a major star in the 1920's famous for his trick riding and daring subnetwork. Unfortunately he had a few too many personal demons and his career steadily declined during the 1930s. This film is from his final solo starring series. He would re-surface briefly over weight and as nasty as ever in the 40s in Monogram's "Trail Blazer" with Hoot Gibson and Bob Steele --- After that he basically "retired" from the screen.
the cast includes
Ken Maynard ... Ranger Ken Neville, posing as 'Red River' Gatnz
Tarzan ... Tarzan (Ken's horse)
Virginia Brown Faire ... Mary Warner
Frank Mayo ... Rance Collins
Charles King ... Henchman Black
Robert Homans ... Silas Warner
Irving Bacon ... Ned 'Repeater' Simpson
Lafe McKee ... Clem Neville (as Lafe M. Kee)
Ethan Allen ... Sheriff
Hank Bell ... Henchman Arkansas
Ralph Bucko ... Henchman Buck
Roy Bucko ... Henchman Roy
Bob Burns ... Cowhand betting against Ken
Earl Dwire ... Townsman
Frank Ellis ... Card player
Cliff Lyons ... Cowhand
Bud McClure ... Bud
Art Mix ... Henchman
Bob Reeves ... Ranger
Jack Rockwell ... Henchman Rawhide
Blackjack Ward ... Henchman Jack
Slim Whitaker ... Bartender
SPECIAL FEATURES:
BIO:
1. Ken Maynard (aka: Kenneth Olin Maynard)
Date of Birth: 21 July 1895 - Vevay, Indiana
Date of Death: 23 March 1973 - Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California
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
KEN MAYNARD WESTERN DOUBLE FEATURE
Vol 1: Phantom Thunderbolt & Lightning Strikes West (VCI #7240) (DVD)
Vol 2: Dynamite Ranch & Death Rides the Range (VCI #7295) (DVD)
Vol 3: Drum Taps & Two Gun Man (VCI #7300) (DVD)
Vol 4: Fargo Express & Harmony Trail (VCI #7284) (DVD)
Vol 5: Western Courage & Whistlin' Dan (VCI #7307) (DVD)
Vol 6: In Old Santa Fe & Come On Tarzan (VCI #7346) (DVD)
Vol 7: Boots of Destiny & Flamin' Lead (VCI #7348) (DVD)
Vol 8: Six Shootin' Sheriff & Trailin' Trouble (VCI #7350) (DVD)
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: 123 mins on DVD ~ Poverty Row ~ (08/22/2006)
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DVD ~ Buck Jones
DVD ~ Ken Maynard;Hoot Gibson;Jack LaRue
DVD ~ Buster Crabbe
