Overland Stage Raiders (1938)

Director:

George Sherman

Writers:

William Colt MacDonald (characters)
Bernard McConville (story) ...

Release Date:

20 September 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

After gold shipments from a mining town have been hijacked, the three Mesquiteers buy a plane to fly the gold out...

Plot Keywords:

Gold | Pilot | Airline | Cattle | Rancher

Cast

John Wayne	...	Stony Brooke
Ray Corrigan	...	Tucson Smith
Max Terhune	...	Lullaby Joslin
Louise Brooks	...	Beth Hoyt
Anthony Marsh	...	Ned Hoyt
John Archer	...	Bob Whitney (as Ralph Bowman)
Gordon Hart	...	W. T.Mullins
Roy James	...	Dave Harmon
Olin Francis	...	Henchman Jake
Fern Emmett	...	Ma Hawkins
Henry Otho	...	Sheriff Mason
George Sherwood	...	Henchman Clanton
Arch Hall Sr.	...	Joe Waddell (as Archie Hall)
Frank LaRue	...	Hank Milton (as Frank La Rue)
Dirk Thane	...	Dutch, Eastern gangster

Runtime:

55 min | USA:54 min (Western Channel print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA High Fidelity Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #4602) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Republic Pictures

Trivia:

This was 'Louise Brooks'' final film. Contrary to popular rumor, this was not intended to be her "comeback" to Hollywood; she made it because she needed the money. She was paid $300 for the film. Not long after it was released, she was found working as a salesgirl at Saks Fifth Avenue at a salary of $40 a week.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[reading a reward poster]
First Bandit: One thousand dollars. I guess we ain't worth much to the Oro Grande Company.
Second Bandit: That ain't no decent reward for a self-respecting bandit. What do you say we send Harmon a donation to boost the ante?
First Bandit: Maybe I will - after we polish off the three o'clock stage!

Movie Connections:

Featured in 100 Years of John Wayne (2007) (TV)

The Flying Mesquiteers

Continuity was not a big thing back in the day with A films let alone B film serials. The Three Mesquiteers in their various adventures flipped back and forth between the old west and the modern west. Overland Stage Raiders is about as modern as you can get in their stories though.

The boys have decided to invest in an airline in this film. It seems as though the modern stage, make that bus, is constantly being held up and this seems a practical way to avoid robbers. Not to mention that Louise Brooks kind of perks John Wayne's interest.

The robbers however are not to be denied. I have to say that this is the only western I know with a plane holdup. That in and of itself is enough reason to try and see this film.

The once in a lifetime teaming of John Wayne and silent screen legend Louise Brooks is also a reason to see Overland Stage Raiders. Who would ever have figured on them as a screen team.

Overland Stage Raiders is one of the best of the three Mesquiteer series with a very novel setting for a story.