THUNDER TOWN

(director: Harry Fraser; screenwriter: James Oliver; cinematographer: Robert Cline; editor: Roy Livingston; music: Lee Zahler; cast: Bob Steele (Jim Brandon), Syd Saylor (Utah McGirk), Steve Clark (Sheriff Matt Warner), Ellen Hall(Betty Morgan), Bud Geary (Chuck Wilson), Charles King (Bill Rankin), Edward Howard (Dunc Rankin), Bud Osborne (Henry Carson), Jimmy Aubrey (Peter Collins ); Runtime: 52; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Arthur Alexander; PRC; 1946-B/W)

“A busy plot that makes little sense.“

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Harry Fraser (“Chained For Life”/”Ambush Trail”) directs in a formulaic way this not to be believed for a minute standard B Western. It’s limply written by James Oliver with a busy plot that makes little sense, which makes it weaker than most such Westerns. Rancher Jim Brandon (Bob Steele), an ex-con, comes home after spending a year in prison for a bank robbery he didn’t do. He is on parole thanks to the straight-shooter Sheriff Matt Warner Steve Clark (Steve Clark) and his recommendation to the Parole Board, and he plans to catch the bank robbers who framed him. Brandon is helped by his sidekick Utah (Syd Saylor) in his investigation. Quickly the real bank robbers are identified, as Brandon gathers evidence against them. Brandon’s girlfriend, Betty Morgan (Ellen Hall), his neighbor rancher, is under the guardianship of the thug Bill Rankin (Charles King), and is being forced to marry his thuggish kid brother Dunc (Edward Howard) or else the Rankin gang threaten to kill Brandon. The brothers by this move will gain control of her ranch and thereby think they can force Brandon to sell his ranch to them cheaply. The other baddies include the saloon keeper, Chuck Wilson (Bud Geary), and the crooked bank president, Carson (Bud Osborne). How Brandon gets them arrested or killed is as dull as the dumb plot.

REVIEWED ON 6/20/2018 GRADE: C    https://dennisschwartzreviews.com/