Customer Reviews

Law Rides Again

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Specifically regarding Alpha Video's DVD. Although this is a noteworthy film featuring Ken Maynard and Hoot Gibson reunited during 1943 for the first of Monogram Picture's Trailblazer series, this version is not enjoyable.

It is substandard and may have been transferred from VHS or perhaps a 16mm dupe print that was in bad condition as the picture is very soft with much surface noise, hits, glitches and lines plus intermittent missing frames. On a scale of ten, I give this a "four".

I recommend seeking another version as this is visually disappointing especially since it is a very entertaining film.

Ken Maynard and Hoot Gibson look as though they were really enjoying themselves during the making of the TRAIL BLAZERS series at the end of their careers as there are lots of quips and good natured ribbing here...This is certainly a pretty good example of just what Monogram studios could offer as B-Western fodder; lots of action, shootings, chases, wild Indians and double-crossing bad guys mixed in with a tinny, pounding musical score.

The ALPHA dvd is no way as bad as some of the other reviewers make it out to be. Yes, there were some scratches here and there and a splice or two, nothing to be concerned with. The overall picture was nice and clear and alot better than some other ALPHA releases, especially their Roy Rogers' BELLS OF ROSARITA and ROMANCE ON THE RANGE.

No need going into the basic plot. We don't watch these movies for such unimportant things. All you really need to know is that the movie presented here is very watchable, the image is clear, the audio is fine and Hoot and Ken's charm and wit win it all over...I really enjoyed this one and recommend it to fans of such stuff.

Monogram Pictures presents "LAW RIDES AGAIN" (6 August 1943) (59 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)

Under the production staff of:

Alan James - Director

Robert Emmett Tansey - Story

Frances Kavanaugh - Screenwriter

Robert Emmett Tansey - Producer

Marcel Le Picard - Cinematographer

Carl Pierson - Film Editor

Special footnote, this Alpha Video copy is not up to our standards in quality and content. Only hope VCI Entertainment will find a copy that is noteworthy for our collections and release it to the fans of B-Westerns.

Our story line and plot, The Indians are on the warpath and Ken Maynard and Hoot Gibson have been sent to investigate --- They catch an outlaw and he leads them to the Indian Agent Hampton (Kenneth Harlan) --- When Ken searches Hampton's office he finds evidence that Hampton has been cheating the Indians --- Hampton learns his racket has been exposed and musters his men --- Finding themselves greatly outnumbered, Hoot sends for the soldiers --- Jam packed with action and hard riding, even though the two stars are getting long in the tooth --- The second entry in Monogram's low-budget "Trail Blazers" B-Western series --- The Law Rides Again's only novelty was stunt-rider Betty Miles) playing a female stage driver --- Chief Thundercloud, here playing the Indian chief, would later replace the increasingly difficult Ken Maynard in the final two "Trail Blazers" entries, Outlaw Trail and Sonora Stagecoach (both 1944) --- 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 ... U.S. Marshal Ken Maynard

Hoot Gibson ... U.S. Marshal Hoot Gibson

Jack La Rue ... Duke Dillon

Betty Miles ... Betty Conway

Emmett Lynn ... Eagle-Eye the Scout

Kenneth Harlan ... John Hampton, Indian Agent (as Ken Harlan)

Chief Thundercloud ... Thundercloud

Chief Many Treaties ... Chief Barking Fox

Bryant Washburn ... Commissioner Lee

Fred Hoose ... Hank, Stage driver

Kenne Duncan ... Sheriff Jeff (as Ken Duncan)

Roy Brent ... Marshal with Dillon

John Bridges ... Jess, Hotel Thug

John Merton ... Henchman Spike

Hank Bell ... Tex, Hampton Henchman

Charles Murray Jr. ... Henchman

Steve Clark ... Pete Conway, Betty's Father

Budd Buster ... Commissioner's aide

Wally West ... Deputy Wally

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: 59 min on VHS/DVD ~ Monogram Pictures ~ (03/29/2005)