Customer Reviews

Starlight Over Texas

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Monogram Pictures presents "STARLIGHT OVER TEXAS" (7 September 1938 ) (54 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:
Albert Herman - Director
Edward F. Finney - Producer
Harry MacPherson - Screenwriter
John Rathmell - Screenwriter
Francis Corby - Cinematographer
Frank Sanucci - Composer (Music Score)
Fred Bain - Editor

Our story line and plot, Tex Newman (Tex Ritter) has been sent to investigate the theft of government provisions along the border --- Kildare (Karl Hackett) is the leader of the outlaw gang and has his men posing as Indians --- He has already killed the incoming Marshal and assumed his identity --- When Tex asks too many questons, he plans to get rid of him also --- Tex is suspicious of the man who claims to be Marshal Carr, and his prying questions lead to a fiery showdown --- There is an eye-catching fiesta in addition to Ritter's crooning of such tunes as "Pickens" by A.J. Brier and "Starlight Over Texas" by Harry Tobias and Al Von Tilzer --- Enjoyed the first Monogram oater featuring Tex Ritter, with some great character B-Western badmen Charles King, Karl Hackett and Dave O'Brien.

the cast includes
Tex Ritter ... Tex Newman
Salvatore Damino ... Ramon Ruiz
Carmen Laroux ... Rosita Ruiz (as Carmen La Roux)
Rosa Turich ... Maria (as Rosa Turick)
Horace Murphy ... Ananias
'Snub' Pollard ... Pee Wee
Karl Hackett ... Kildare (posing as Deputy Marshal Tom Carr)
Charles King ... Hank Boston (as Chas. King Jr.)
Martin Garralaga ... Captain Gomez
George Chesebro ... Ashley Hill
Carlos Villarías ... Governor Ruiz
Ed Cassidy ... Captain Brooks
The Northwesterners ... Musicians
Carmen Álvarez ... Singer
Catherine Capuano ... Dancer
Horace B. Carpenter ... Bartender
Martin Cazares ... Singer
Eduardo Chavez ... Singer
Jesus Nava ... Singer
Dave O'Brien ... Henchman
Bob Terry ... Henchman Farrell
Wally West ... Cantina Gunman

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: 54 mins on DVD ~ Monogram Pictures ~ (1/27/2009)