THE RENEGADE RANGER

(director: David Howard; screenwriter: Oliver Drake/story by Bennett Cohen; cinematographer: Harry Wild; editor: Frederic Knudtson; music: Roy Webb; cast: Rita Hayworth (Judith Alvarez), George O’Brien (Captain Jack Steele), Tim Holt (Larry Corwin), William Royle (Ben Sanderson), Guy Usher (Major Jameson), Neal Hart (Sheriff), Monte Montague (Monte). Jim Mason (Hank), Tom London (Red), Ray Whitley (Happy), Robert Kortman (Idaho), Lucio Villegas (Don Juan Campielo); Runtime: 59; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Bert Gilroy; RKO; 1938-B/W)

“A nice remake.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

A nice remake of the 1932 Come On, Danger. David Howard (“Triple Justice”/”The Rookie Cop”) effectively directs the B Western. The Ben Cohen story is sharply written for the screen by Oliver Drake. It was remade again in 1942.Major Jameson (Guy Usher), of the Texas Rangers, asks Captain Jack Steele (George O’Brien) to bring in the rancher Judith Alvarez (Rita Hayworth), who is unjustly accused of the murder of Sam Dunning–partner to the film’s villain. She becomes a Robin Hood figure going after the crooked politicians who are cheating the local ranchers. The crooked tax collector from Peco City, Ben Sanderson (William Royle), offers a reward of $2,000 for her arrest. Meanwhile Jack’s Ranger sidekick Larry Corwin (Tim Holt) sides with Judith and goes to her aid after dismissed by the Rangers for not following orders and getting into a saloon brawl. In the end everything gets resolved when Jack overhears that Sanderson ordered his henchman Monte (Monte Montague) to kill Dunning. At a trial in a fair district, Judith and her men are pardoned by the Governor, and their land is returned. Major Jameson then reinstates Larry, and Jack kisses Judith. For some local flavor Ray Whitley yodels “Move Slow, Little Doggie” by Willia Phelps, and Cecilia Callejo, as Holt’s love interest, performs a Mexican dance.

REVIEWED ON 4/1/2019 GRADE: B   https://dennisschwartzreviews.com/