Rare showing of back-to-back Red Ryder westerns. Wild Bill Elliott and Alan “Rocky” Lane are the stars, each in their own action-packed western movie. Both are loaded with fast riding and fisticuffs and both feature Bobby Blake as Red’s sidekick, Little Beaver.
Wild Bill leads off with MARSHAL OF RENO (1944). This is the movie that Gabby Hayes displays some of that fancy gun twirling that he’d been practicing as a sidekick to a young John Wayne, William Boyd and Roy Rogers. MARSHAL OF RENO co-stars Jay Kirby and future cinema legend, writer/director Blake Edwards (THE PINK PANTHER) as two Eastern dudes falsely accused of robbery and murder. Red Ryder goes undercover to find out who the gang leader is.
Not only is Republic known for fast action, but for having top character actors in the cast. MARSHAL OF RENO is no exception. You’ll spot Charlie King, Fred Graham, LeRoy Mason, Keene Duncan, Edmund Cobb and Tom London as the Sheriff. Tom Steele doubles Elliott. Alice Fleming is featured as The Duchess in the film which was shot at the Iverson Ranch in Chatsworth.
The 2nd feature, 1946’s SANTA FE UPRISING, stars Alan “Rocky” Lane as Red, replacing Elliott who was promoted to A movies. It is one of the best in the series and features former Warner Brothers star Barton MacLane, with Jack La Rue, Dick Curtis, Tom London (again) and as deputies, Emmett Lynn and Hank Patterson, who you’ll recognize from GREEN ACRES.
You won’t recognize the Duchess in this film because she won’t be played by Alice Fleming but Martha Wentworth. Of course, Bobby Blake IS back as Red’s helpful sidekick who ends up needing to be rescued. The typical slam-bang action you expect in a Republic production is even more inventive than usual because the 2nd Unit Director is none other than the legendary stuntman and former western star, Yakima Canutt.
Yep, the red-haired hero of Republic Pictures is back with a double-barreled double feature on Word’s Wayback. So…Double your pleasure with our Double Bill and let us know which Red Ryder you prefer. Wild Bill Elliott with his backwards guns or Alan Lane with the traditional double rig.
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