This B-western starts off with two big strikes against it. First, it features Max Terhune and his 'friend', Elmer. Elmer, it turns out, is a ventriloquist's dummy and the idea of this in an old-time western is just plain stupid. It's also one of the most inexplicable things I've ever seen in a movie and it's hard to believe 56 films were made with this wooden dummy (a literal wooden dummy--I am not making some sort of pejorative comment about Elmer's acting talents)! Elmer appeared in mostly westerns with the likes of Gene Autry, Robert Livingston and Johnny Mack Brown and even appeared in a Dick Tracy film!!! Second, the film begins with standard plot #6--the fake prison escape in order to find out where the bandit hideout is--something that was done dozens and dozens of times before and after--making the film very predictable. Because of these problems, Ray Corrigan starts off the film was some major handicaps. At least Dusty King's singing is a pleasant addition.
As I mentioned above, the film begins with Corrigan being locked up and then 'rescued' by one friend--and soon meeting 'by accident' with another. In the process, another prisoner (a real prisoner) shows them where his hideout is at Fugitive Valley. Now you'd THINK with a name like this that the authorities would have already suspected Fugitive Valley was a hideout! The three Range Busters (the name given to this trio of good guys in a string of B-westerns) must find out who the leader is--the Whip! The gang keep insisting that there is no real Whip--it's just an alias they all use. But Corrigan's razor-sharp instincts tell him that there is a Mr. Big behind all this and he's determined to find him or her. Overall, despite the plot and Elmer, the acting and singing are fine--even if it's all very predictable if you've seen more than a few westerns. Not bad...but not particularly inspired either.
By the way, if you like trivia, note Gray in this film. He's Glenn Strange and played in a ton of westerns...as well as played Frankenstein's monster in several of Universal's horror films {such as "Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein").
As I mentioned above, the film begins with Corrigan being locked up and then 'rescued' by one friend--and soon meeting 'by accident' with another. In the process, another prisoner (a real prisoner) shows them where his hideout is at Fugitive Valley. Now you'd THINK with a name like this that the authorities would have already suspected Fugitive Valley was a hideout! The three Range Busters (the name given to this trio of good guys in a string of B-westerns) must find out who the leader is--the Whip! The gang keep insisting that there is no real Whip--it's just an alias they all use. But Corrigan's razor-sharp instincts tell him that there is a Mr. Big behind all this and he's determined to find him or her. Overall, despite the plot and Elmer, the acting and singing are fine--even if it's all very predictable if you've seen more than a few westerns. Not bad...but not particularly inspired either.
By the way, if you like trivia, note Gray in this film. He's Glenn Strange and played in a ton of westerns...as well as played Frankenstein's monster in several of Universal's horror films {such as "Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein").