Challenge of the Range
Cast & Crew
Ray Nazarro
Charles Starrett
Paula Raymond
William Halop
Steve Darrell
Henry Hall
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Steve Roper, disguised as the masked crime fighter The Durango Kid, breaks up a gunfight between cowboys and a gang of outlaws at the Barton farm. Later Steve learns from Jim Barton and his daughter Judy that although the raiders get their orders from notes left in a hollow tree, the farmers believe that Cal Matson, the biggest rancher in the area, is behind them. Barton suspects that Matson is trying to drive the farmers out of the valley so that he can take over the land for his ranch. Later, Steve checks into the town's hotel and meets Smiley Burnette, an author from the East, who intends to write a book about the range wars. Then, Matson's son Reb challenges Steve to a shooting contest, and when Steve wins, offers him a job. Grat Largo and Lon Collins, the officers of the local Farmer's Association, double Reb's offer if Steve will work for them. The Matsons are furious when they learn that Steve is working for the association. At the Barton ranch, Steve admits that he is not sure if Matson is really behind the attacks. After the outlaws execute another raid on a farm, Steve chases the gunmen, but Reb and his men interfere, and Steve loses his prey. During the chase, a note flutters to the ground, however, and Steve finds it. In the meantime, Barton heads for town to have a showdown with Matson, During the battle, Barton is shot, and although Steve, who is disguised as The Durango Kid, notices that the shots came from a boarded-up building, Matson is arrested. Steve brings two threatening notes to Largo and Collins, hoping that they will be able to identify the handwriting. When they cannot, he shows them to the Bartons, who also do not recognize the handwriting. Still dressed as The Durango Kid, Steve then rides to the Matson ranch and tells Reb that he needs a sample of his father's handwriting in order to prove his innocence. To The Durango Kid's surprise, Matson's handwriting is identical to that on the note. Reb speculates that the note was forged by Collins. Later, The Durango Kid sneaks into the association office and discovers contracts signed by all the farmers, which give the association rights to any land abandoned by the farmers. Largo then sends a note to the sheriff warning him that Reb will try to help his father escape from jail and another to Reb warning him that Matson will be lynched. Reb shows his note to Steve, who outlines his suspicions that Largo is plotting to take over the water rights in the valley. Collins, who is not a part of Largo's schemes, tries unsuccessfully to stop his partner. During a shootout with The Durango Kid, Largo tries to kill Matson, but Collins kills him first. With the range wars now over, the Matsons and the Bartons unite as Judy and Reb realize they love each other.
Director
Ray Nazarro
Cast
Charles Starrett
Paula Raymond
William Halop
Steve Darrell
Henry Hall
Robert Filmer
The Sunshine Boys
Smiley Burnette
George Chesebro
Leroy Johnson
John Mckee
Emile Avery
Frank Mccarroll
John Cason
Cactus Mack
Pat O'malley
Milt Kibbee
Crew
Paul Borofsky
Smiley Burnette
Charles Clague
Colbert Clark
Paul Donnelly
Doris Fisher
Russell Malmgren
David Montrose
Ed. Earl Repp
Allan Roberts
Rex Wimpy
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The viewed print was entitled Moonlight Raid, a television release title. For more information about "The Durango Kid" series, please consult the Series Index and see the entry below for The Return of the Durango Kid.
