Product Details

• Actors: Charles Starrett, Fred F. Sears, Nancy Saunders, Don Reynolds, Doye O'Dell
• Directors: Vernon Keays
• Writers: Norman S. Hall
• Producers: Colbert Clark
• Format: Black & White, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Sony Pictures
• VHS Release Date: February 11, 1997
• Run Time: 54 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: 630433107X
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #356,180 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "The Durango Kid B-Western Series ... Whirlwind Raiders (1948) ... Columbia Pictures", December 19, 2006

By 

J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Whirlwind Raiders [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Columbia Pictures present "WHIRLWIND RAIDERS" (1948) (54 mins/B&W) (Dolby digitally remastered) --- Charles Starrett as the black masked Durango Kid of '40s and '50s B-Western trail, he became as synonymous with the character as Clayton Moore was with the Lone Ranger and William Boyd was to Hopalong Cassidy ... The Durango Kid was an immediate hit with Saturday matinee crowd and a decision was made to continue the character, which Columbia did for an unprecedented 64 series westerns over the next seven years ... when Starrett portrayed the black clad and masked Durango Kid, he rode a white steed named Raider ... don't miss any of the Durango Kid features loaded with action that will leave you wanting more of his B-Western adventures.

Under Vernon Keays (Director), Colbert Clark (Producer), Norman Hall (Screenwriter), M.A. Anderson (Cinematographer), Paul Borofsky (Editor) ------ the cast includes Charles Starrett (Steve Lanning/The Durango Kid), Smiley Burnette (Smiley Burnette), Fred F. Sears (Tracy Beaumont ), Nancy Saunders (Claire Ross),Don Kay Reynolds (Tommy Ross), Doye O'Dell (Doye, band leader), Jack Ingram (Captain Buff Tyson), Frank LaRue (Rancher Wilson), Eddie Parker (Henchman Red Jordan) and Jock Mahoney (stunt double: Charles Starrett) ------ our players with our hero clad in black Charlest Starrett (Durango Kid) and comedy relief Smiley Burnette, who really is over the top in a good way in this Columbia oater ... are the newly organized Texas State Police the problem here, can Charles Starrett posing as a outlaw wanted by the law make the difference ... who has discovered the true identity of Durango and will they expose him ... all this and more with veteran B-Western actors Jack Ingram, Frank LaRue, Eddie Parker and Fred F. Sears ... one can never count out everyone's favorite maunder The Durango Kid ---- they just don't make 'em like this anymore and Columbia Pictures was one of the leaders of exciting B-Westerns and Serials.

Special Footnote, Charles Starrett was an American actor best known for his starring role in the "Durango Kid" Columbia Pictures western series ... In 1933 he was one of the people who helped organize the Screen Actors Guild, and in 1936 signed with Columbia Pictures to become one of the top ten western stars, starring in 115 movies the following 16 years ... in playing assorted sheriff and rangers roles, Starrett gained notoriety for his role as the "Durango Kid", the first film in which he played his famous alter-ego character was known as "The Durango Kid", which was released in 1940, but for some reason, Columbia did not see fit to continue with the series at that time ... the character was revived in 1944 and lasted through 1952. Dub Taylor, as "Cannonball", worked with Starrett until 1946 ... at that time, Smiley Burnette, who had been a very popular sidekick to Gene Autry, was brought in to replace Taylor. Burnette, appropriately enough, played a character called Smiley Burnette ... "The Durango Kid" series combined vigorous action sequences - often with speeded up camera work and spectacular stunts performed by Jock Mahoney - and western music ... each film featured a singing group, and many gave free rein to Burnette's singing and playing ... Starrett, who was independently wealthy, ended his acting career at 48 age when the "Durango Kid" series ceased production.

BIOS:
1. Charles Starrett
Date of birth: 28 March 1903 - Athol, Massachusetts,
Date of death: 22 March 1986 - Borrego Springs, California

Great job releasing "Whirlwind Raiders" (1948) - Durango Kid, the digital transfere with a clean, clear and crisp print...looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '20s, '30s & '40s and B-Westerns ... order your copy now from Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on VHS, stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with deadly adventure --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out VCI Entertainment where they are experts in releasing B-Westerns and Serials ---Western Classics, all my heroes have been cowboys!

Total Time: 54 min on VHS ~ Sony Video ~ (2/11/1997)