I can't say that I have seen every Ken Maynard film ever made, but I have seen enough of them to compare. This is one of the better movies he made. The Red Raiders has Maynard in a cavalry setting with a feel much like the movies John Wayne would make twenty years later. There is a feisty Irishman in charge of the troops. A rivalry for the attention of the women in the fort is also played out. As Lt. John Scott, Maynard is constantly a dedicated soldier with only a few moments of comedy. Unlike other westerns from Ken Maynard's career, The Red Raiders is more serious in its approach to telling its story. However, it still has the elements that were commonly found in westerns: a relationship between a horse and rider, a strong hero, and just enough humor to keep things lively.
When Lt. Scott is to be assigned a horse, the men switch his horse with the troublesome Tarzan. Scott breaks Tarzan in a scene that showcases not only Maynard's riding ability, but the training of Tarzan, too. The entire movie is full of great riding scenes. This was a strong point for The Red Raiders.
The Red Raiders is about cavalry fighting indians. The indians in this movie are split between the old chief who accepts the move to a reservation and the young warrior, Lone Wolf, who wants to fight the white men. Chief Yowlachie is as strong in his role as Lone Wolf as Maynard is as Lt. Scott.
To describe a raid by the indians, the word "terrorism" appears in this 1927 movie in this context: "After a night of terrorism ....Outraged settlers gather at the fort to demand protection."
