Underground Rustlers

Little did I know that the West was really won thanks, at least in part, to the power of ventriloquism!! How I, as a history teacher, didn't know that is beyond me! At least that's the sort of history you get when Max Terhune and Elmer are in a film! This is one of a series of Range Busters films--a Monogram series roughly equivalent to the Three Mesquiteers. Crash Corrigan, Dusty King and Alibi Terhune are these three wild west do-gooders. When the film begins, they are between missions when they are approached to investigate the disappearance of gold shipments. Terhune remarks how their job involves helping people with cattle rustling and the like--in other words, 'who cares about the rich folks who are losing money?'. Well, this sentiment is one that probably resonated some in the States as they were just coming out of the Depression! But when told how this effects even the common folk, the Range Busters agree to investigate. Here is the part I loved--and love in many of Max Terhune's films. He sneaks into town and poses as an itinerant ventriloquist!!! He and his wooden partner (I am not referring to either King or Corrigan--I mean MORE wooden partner) keep an eye out for baddies. Eventually, the Sheriff thinks he has the right man behind the gold thefts, but somehow the Range Busters' spider senses (or something) tell them it's not the right man. So how do they prove the real culprit? Tune in and see...or not.

This is a rather routine film--about what you'd expect from such a series B-western--relatively bad acting, low production values and a lot of clichés. What made it enjoyable was the ventriloquism--a surreal experience I can't wait to see again. Not because it's good, mind you, but because it confused me and gave me a good laugh.

This entry in the Ranger Busters series at least deserves credit for having a well-structured plot, despite poor acting. There seems to be a balance struck between the drama, action, comedy, and very mild romance. Ray Corrigan and John 'Dusty' King are always seen together plotting how to outwit the gold robbers while Max 'Alibi' Terhune does some of the investigative work on his own, besides some attempts at humor with his ventriloquist dummy Elmer. One scene is quite memorable in which Alibi is talking to Elmer, but no one else is in the room. Obviously the filmmakers didn't think the audience would be a worried about Alibi's sanity. Overall, a B-movie that, while not outstanding, at least left me with some sense of entertainment satisfaction from having watched it.