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4.0 out of 5 stars
"Range Busters Series ... Range Busters (1940) ... Monogram", March 30, 2008
This review is from: Range Busters [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Monogram Pictures presents "RANGE BUSTERS" (22 August 1940) (56 mins/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) -- With the success of Republic's Three Mesquiteers, several forces came together around 1940 to develop a new 'trigger trio' for the screen --- The star was Ray 'Crash' Corrigan, a producer named George W. Weeks and Monogram Pictures --- With a character of his own name. Ray starred in 20 of the 24 films in this series between 1940 and 1943 --- The Range Busters was clearly a lower budget copy of the Mesquiteers --- Big, muscular Ray 'Crash' Corrigan was the lead, the second lead was John 'Dusty' King, a big band singer (Ben Bernie Orchestra) with a reasonably good baritone, who would vocalize a tune or two in each film --- And comic relief was in the hands of ventriloquist Max 'Alibi' Terhune (and his wise-cracking dummy Elmer --- Monogram would distribute the Range Busters but not be directly involved in the productions --- The deal gave Corrigan a substantial share of the film profits (in an interview years later, Ray said he received 50%).
Under the production staff of:
Roy S. Luby - Director
George W. Weeks - Producer
John Rathmell - Screenwriter
Eddie Linden - Cinematographer
Roy Claire - Editor
Our story line and plot, Our heroes Ray "Crash" Corrigan (Himself), Dusty (John King) and Alibi (Max Terhune) members of the Range Busters find a mysterious phantom is murdering the hands at the Circle T Ranch and the owner sends for the Range Busters just before he too is killed --- They quickly run into trouble with Torrance (LeRoy Mason) and his gang --- Seems Torance is after the Circle T but Crash doesn't think he is the phantom --- Crash suspects it may be blind Uncle Rolf (Earle Hodgins) --- When the phantom strikes next, Crash is ready and his identity is soon revealed, who do you think he is --- "The Range Busters"-which was also the name of the first film in the series --- Watch for clues in the first part of the film and see if you know who the Phantom is.
the cast includes:
Ray Corrigan ... 'Crash' Corrigan (as Ray 'Crash' Corrigan)
John 'Dusty' King ... 'Dusty'
Max Terhune ... 'Alibi' (as Max 'Alibi' Terhune)
Elmer ... Elmer, Alibi's Dummy
Luana Walters ... Carol Thorp
LeRoy Mason ... Torrence
Earle Hodgins ... Uncle Rolf Thorp
Frank LaRue ... Doc Stengle
Kermit Maynard ... Henchman Wyoming
Bruce King ... Henchman Wall
Carl Mathews ... Henchman Rocky (as 'Duke' Mathews)
Horace Murphy ... Homer Thorp
BIOS:
1. Ray 'Crash' Corrigan (aka: Raymond Benard)
Date of Birth: 14 February 1902 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Date of Death: 10 August 1976 - Brookings Harbor, Oregon
2. John 'Dusty' King (aka: Miller McLeod Everson)
Date of Birth: 11 July 1909 - Cincinnati, Ohio
Date of Death: 11 November 1987 - San Diego, California
3. Max Terhune
Date of Birth: 12 February 1891 - Anderson, Indiana
Date of Death: 5 June 1973 - 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
RANGE BUSTERS WESTERN DOUBLE FEATURE FROM VCI ENTERTAINMENT
VOL 1 -- WRANGLER'S ROOST & SADDLE MOUNTAIN ROUNDUP - (VCI #7243)
VOL.2 -- FUGITIVE VALLEY & THE KID'S LAST RIDE - (VCI #7349)
Hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guideslines 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) and Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") as they have rekindled my interest once again for B-Westerns and Serials --- If you're into the memories of B-Westerns with high drama, this is the one you've been anxiously waiting for --- please stand up and take a bow --- all my heroes have been cowboys!
Total Time: 56 min on VHS/DVD ~ Monogram Pictures ~ (3/01/2001)
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