Death Valley Rangers

When Charles King and Wally West are just two of the "withs," you know you have a great cast. And usually that means a great movie.

Yes, it's not "Ben-Hur" or "Gone With the Wind." Yes, it's a B Western, but in my not-very-humble opinion, that's the top of the line of movie entertainment.

Ken Maynard, Hoot Gibson, and Bob Steele were simply among the best of the celluloid cowboys. With even one of them, a movie had to be good. With all three, you know there will be action and fun.

"Death Valley Rangers" -- somewhat of a generic title, but not detracting -- is a well-directed story, with some twists and turns, some shtick from the three main characters ("Say, I've got an idea!"), and lots of great riding, some really good stunts, and one GREAT stunt, with some beautiful non-Death Valley scenery, well photographed.

In addition, one of the prettiest of the thrown-in-for-good-measure girls to appear in a series B Western, Linda Brent, was along to ... well, mostly to look pretty and to give Bob Steele his usual chance at thwarted romance, which was his character's fate in this series.

"Death Valley Rangers" is really fun, and it is well-done fun. Low budget? Sure. Quickly made? Yes. But it is still a cut above and is, as I said, well-done fun. I recommend it, and you can see it where I did, at YouTube.