Fort Savage Raiders
Cast & Crew
Ray Nazarro
Charles Starrett
Smiley Burnette
John Dehner
Trevor Bardette
Peter Thompson
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Angered when he is forbidden by military restrictions to visit his ailing child, cavalry officer Capt. Michael Craydon goes AWOL, but is captured and incarcerated in Fort Savage's garrison. Becoming unhinged by these events, Craydon then leads a violent escape with several other jailed soldiers, and the gang, christened the Fort Savage Raiders, begins a crime spree across the West. Col. Sutter turns to his longtime friend, Steve Drake, to form a small company to capture Craydon's gang. Steve gathers acquaintances Smiley Burnette, Old Cuss and Rog Beck for the assignment, but the men are dismayed when Sutter reveals that because it is a military mission, they must be led by an officer. The assignment is given to Sutter's arrogant and inexperienced son, recent West Point graduate Lt. James Sutter. Sutter appeals to Steve to convince the others to accept Jim's leadership and Steve agrees. The group disguises themselves as prospectors to go in search of Craydon's raiders, but is constantly tried by Jim's unfamiliarity with the West and his insistence on doing things strictly "by the book." When Jim's stubbornness places the men in danger, they are rescued by The Durango Kid, who, unknown to everyone, is Steve's alter ego. Later, Steve and the men tangle with Craydon and pick off most of his men, but Jim continues to hamper their mission. Soon after, Jim's inflexibility nearly costs him his own life, and when he is again rescued by The Durango Kid, Jim angrily attempts to arrest The Kid as an outlaw. Frustrated by Jim's mulish attitude, Steve finally challenges the young officer to a fistfight. After receiving a thrashing, Jim allows the men to try Steve's plan and they succeed in trapping Craydon and one of his gang member in a cave. In the ensuing fight Steve finally kills Craydon, bringing an end to the Fort Savage Raiders.
Director
Ray Nazarro
Cast
Charles Starrett
Smiley Burnette
John Dehner
Trevor Bardette
Peter Thompson
Fred Sears
John Cason
Frank Griffin
Sam Flint
Dusty Walker
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
For additional information on "The Durango Kid" series, please see the entry for The Return of the Durango Kid in AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1931-40 and consult the Series Index.
