The Lone Star Trail

Tex Ritter always looked and sounded good and his Texas upbringing showed when he essayed cowboy roles.

Johnny Mack Brown, on the other hand, was not a native-born cowboy, in fact, started his movie career as leading man to such leading ladies as Joan Crawford, but he became one of the most popular Western stars, and with very good reason.

First, he was a good-looking, athletic man, having been, in fact, a college football star. Somehow, he adapted himself to the cowboy role and seemed perfectly natural in his dozens of Western roles.

In this small film, he doesn't have to stretch, except in the fight scenes, but where acting replaces action, he continues to shine.

He and Tex are sided by Fuzzy Knight, whose part stretches him a bit and he's not the silly stutterer he played too often. Really Knight made a good Western player.

Again not needing to do much but look good, Jennifer Holt as usual does that extremely well, but she always was much more than the proverbial pretty face: She came from a family of actors and never let the side down.

Jimmy Wakely, later a star in his own series, is here with his two side-men, the great Johnny Bond and Scotty Harrel.

They, as friends and allies with our heroes, must join in confronting the bad guys, including Robert Mitchum. Wow, even as a beginner, Mitchum was so smooth, so in control, that he would become a huge star just seemed inevitable in the way he handled even this type of small part.

Cast and the script by Oliver Drake make this potentially routine film something more, and they are helped by directing from veteran Ray Taylor. And music from Ritter and the Wakely trio is just icing on the cake.

I have no hesitation in recommending "The Lone Star Trail," and you can find a copy at YouTube.