Crashing Thru (1939)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Elmer Clifton

Writers:

Sherman L. Lowe (writer) and
Laurie York Erskine (novel)

Release Date:

11 December 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure

Tagline:

Down the danger trail sweeps a crimson fury... As Renfrew rides again!

Plot:

Six people are in on a gold robbery. Three of them double-cross the others. Mountie Renfrew has to go...

Plot Keywords:

Renfrew Of The Mounties | Based On Novel

Cast

James Newill	...	Sgt. Renfrew
Warren Hull	...	Constable Kelly
Jean Carmen	...	Ann 'Angel' Chambers
Milburn Stone	...	Delos Harrington (mining company)
Walter Byron	...	McClusky (a thug)
Stanley Blystone	...	Jim LaMont (holdup gang)
Robert Frazer	...	Dr. Smith
Joseph W. Girard	...	Steamship Captain (as Joseph Girard)
Dave O'Brien	...	Fred Chambers (Ann's brother)
Earl Douglas	...	Slant Eye
Ted Adams	...	Eskimo Pete (holdup gang)
Roy Barcroft	...	Henchman Green

Runtime:

65 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, California, USA

Company:

Criterion Pictures Corp.

Trivia:

Last of the "Renfrew of the Mounted Police" series.

Movie Connections:

Followed by Sky Bandits (1940)

Soundtrack:

Mounted Men

More Than Enough Action for Six Cliffhangers!

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.