BORDER BADMEN(director: Sam Newfield; screenwriter: George Milton; cinematographer: Jack Greenhalgh; editor: Holbrook Todd; music: Frank Sanucci; cast: Buster Crabbe (Billy Carson), Al ‘Fuzzy’ St. John (Fuzzy Q. Jones), Lorraine Miller (Helen Stockton), Charles King (Merritt), Raphael Bennett (Deputy Spencer), Archie Hall (Gillian), Marin Sais (Mrs. Bentley); Runtime: 59; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Sigmund Neufeld; PRC; 1945)
“Routine B-Western that falls apart due to its lame attempts at comedy.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Routine B-Western that falls apart due to its lame attempts at comedy. It has Fuzzy Q. Jones (Al ‘Fuzzy’ St. John) discover he’s an heir to the Stockton estate, as the 32nd cousin of the deceased. He convinces his partner Billy Carson (Buster Crabbe) to accompany him to nearby Silver Creek to present his claim for the inheritance. At the outskirts of Silver Creek, they discover a dead man and are falsely arrested by Deputy Sheriff Spencer (Raphael Bennett). They soon discover that Sheriff Bentley has been killed, and that they’re in a crooked town. Kicked out of town, they run into Helen Stockton (Lorraine Miller). She’s the legit heir to her uncle’s estate. The three are jumped by the henchmen of Merritt (Charles King). The baddie plans on stealing the inheritance. After holding the three under guard, the gang substitutes Helen with Roxie (Marilyn Gladstone), using Helen’s ID papers to fool the probate court.

Fuzzy goes through a number of clownish slapstick antics, some involving a secret chamber with a revolving door, while Billy acts serious. Eventually they foil the baddies and save the inheritance for Helen. The big yuk is that Fuzzy’s inheritance consists of merely one dollar and many unpaid bills.

Sam Newfield directs, George Milton does the screenplay.

REVIEWED ON 11/16/2005 GRADE: C+

Dennis Schwartz: “Ozus’ World Movie Reviews”

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