Crashing Thru

This entry, the fourth of eight in the Renfrew series (all starring the personable James Newill as the singing Mountie), marks a stunning return to form for director Elmer Clifton whose spectacular "Down to the Sea in Ships" (1922) rates as one of the highlights of silent movie-making. True, the budget here is not a twentieth as extensive, but nonetheless the script is packed with virtually non-stop action and Clifton handles it masterfully. Our only complaint is that the film moves so fast, there's time for only ten or twelve great close-ups of super-attractive Jean Carmen who has a decent role for once. Mind you, even hero Newill has to share his screen time with partner Warren Hull and a first-rate gallery of villains. But Newill is also indulged with a couple of songs; yet, with his voice, who's complaining?

Another welcome aspect of this entry centers on the humor front. Although there's a fair amount of agreeably friendly, comic by-play between Renfrew and Kelly, there's no tedious "comedy" relief at all like the exasperating Benny Rubin in the third Renfrew entry, "Fighting Mad". As said, this one concentrates on action. There's more than enough for six cliffhangers.