The Texas Marshal (1941)

Director:

Sam Newfield

Writer:

William Lively (original screenplay)

Release Date:

13 July 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

Local "patriot's league" leader secretly kills off ranchers, buys up their estates, which are undermined with tin ore; Marshal and singing cowpoke team up to find villain and motive.

Plot Keywords:

Land Swindle | Vigilante | Tin Mine | Actor Shares First Name With Character

Cast

Tim McCoy	...	Marshal 'Trigger Tim' Rand
Art Davis	...	Art
Kay Leslie	...	Marge Adams
Karl Hackett	...	Ernest Moore
Edward Peil Sr.	...	Sam Adams (rancher)
Charles King	...	Henchman Ray Titus
Dave O'Brien	...	Buzz Weston
Budd Buster	...	Henderson (banker)
John Elliott	...	John Gorham (rancher)
Wilson Edwards	...	Radio Announcer
Byron Vance	...	Deputy Bill
Rhythm Riders	...	Musicians
Gene Haas	...	Musician (as Art Davis' Rhythm Riders)
Ace Dehne	...	Guitar Player (as Art Davis' Rhythm Riders)
Rusty Cline	...	Bass Player (as Art Davis Rhythm Riders)

Runtime:

59 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #7325)

Company:

Producers Releasing Corporation

Watchable traditional shoot-em-up makes a pleasant diversion.

Fair-to-middlin' western from PRC, with a little more care & a little less padding than in lots of their output. Four original western-swing numbers by co-star Art Davis and His Rhythm Riders, relevant to the action, help liven things up. So do presences of familiar faces and assured talents of Karl Hackett and Charlie King doing the villainy, Dave O'Brien in a light supporting role as Davis' would-be talent agent, and Ed Peil Sr. as principal victim of the villainy, along with star McCoy and co-star Davis. No muffed lines, obvious boom -mike shadows, extensive stock footage or padding (the girl, Kay Leslie, as Peil's daughter and supposedly Davis' love-interest - tho most scenes find her with O'Brien - is however patently superfluous), or attempts at humor (both King & O'Brien are in essentially 'straight' roles here), all help keep interest in the action and personalities. Plot is the old one, recycled, about the leading citizen who's really a baddy, has discovered something valuable in the earth below the local ranches (of which only he is aware), and is secretly killing off the ranchers & buying their land on the cheap to get the monopoly (no spoiler in identifying this snake as Hackett, as his character & motives are revealed in the opening sequence). For a change, he's after "tin ore" instead of the usual oil, water or gold. In short, like your favorite bathrobe, familiar and unspectacular, but comfortable and durable in its place.