Lone Texas Ranger
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Spencer Bennet
Wild Bill Elliott
Bobby Blake
Alice Fleming
Roy Barcroft
Tom Chatterton
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
The citizens of Silver City idolize their sheriff, "Iron Mike" Haines, who is renowned for his honesty and efficiency at catching outlaws. Unknown to the townsfolk, Haines is completely corrupt and, along with blacksmith "Hands" Weber, runs a gang that has committed many robberies, including those that are bankrupting the Carter silver mines. One afternoon, Haines and Weber are conferring in Weber's shop when cowboy Bill Bradley comes in looking for a job. Weber sends Bradley to his ranch house, telling him that they will meet him later that night. In the evening, Sally Carter waits in her family's mining company's office with her aunt, the Duchess, whom she introduces to Haines. While they are talking, two of Haines's men, Whitey and Betcha, kill Sally's uncle Horace and steal the silver that he is guarding. Haines pretends to chase the men, who return to Weber's ranch house. There they meet Bradley, who is outraged to he learn what they have done. They shoot and kill him, after which Haines takes Bradley's body to town and claims that he was one of the robbers. Haines feigns sorrow about not retrieving the silver, and Sally is grateful for his efforts. Afraid that Sally will have to close the mine, the Duchess offers financial support and also sends for her nephew, Texas Ranger Red Ryder, to clean up the town. On the same day that Red and his Indian ward, Little Beaver, come to Silver City, Haines's son Tommy returns home, having graduated from college. Haines is very proud of his son, who is unaware of his criminal activities. Later, Betcha leads his men to rob the stagecoach, but Red foils their attempt. Whitey flees back to the hideout, and is followed by Red, who then questions him. With the help of a mirror, Red spots Haines behind him as he is about to shoot him in the back, and both Whitey and Haines are fatally wounded in the ensuing fray. The dying Haines confesses that he is a criminal, but begs Red not to disillusion Tommy with the truth. Unaware that Betcha witnessed the shooting, Red returns to town, where he tells the townspeople that Haines died while attempting to apprehend the stagecoach robbers. The distraught citizens begin building a monument to Haines and elect Tommy as the new sheriff. All goes well until Hands orders his man Baker to sabotage the silver mine in the hope that Sally will be forced into bankruptcy. Baker sets off a devastating explosion, but the loyal miners offer to work for free until the next shipment is sold. Soon after, Haines's monument is finished, and on the day it is to be dedicated, Betcha returns to town and tells Hands that Red killed Haines. Hands relays the information to Tommy, who confronts Red. While Tommy and Red are fighting, Hands's gang steals the silver shipment and hides it in a secret cellar in the blacksmith shop. After knocking Tommy unconscious, Red arrives at the shop to question Betcha. Tommy follows Red, and thanks to Hands's noisy pet crow, the pair find the hidden silver and learn the truth about Hands's involvement with the gang. Tommy is also told the truth about his father, and when he declares that he will not participate in the monument's dedication, Red tries to persuade him that the townspeople need to believe in heroes. Tommy is dissuaded from revealing the truth by the sight of a crying youngster, who saved up all of his pennies for the monument and now cannot participate in the ceremony because of his dirty uniform. Tommy allows the boy to play in the band and then dedicates the memorial to the reputation that his father had in the hearts of his friends.
Director
Spencer Bennet
Cast
Wild Bill Elliott
Bobby Blake
Alice Fleming
Roy Barcroft
Tom Chatterton
Jack Mcclendon
Helen Talbot
Bud Geary
Budd Buster
Nelson Mcdowell
Larry Olsen
Rex Lease
Jack Kirk
Frederick Howard
Earl Dobbins
Hal Price
Nolan Leary
Frank O'connor
Dale Van Sickel
Bill Stevens
Leroy Mason
Crew
Ed Borschell
Richard Cherwin
Charles Craft
Louis Gray
Russell Kimball
Harry Knight
Bob Mark
Enzo Martinelli
George Milo
William J. O'sullivan
Fred A. Ritter
Gordon C. Schaefer
John Stransky Jr.
Bud Thackery
Bob Williams
Howard Wilson
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Modern sources include Robert Wilke, Horace B. Carpenter and Tom Steele in the cast. For more information on the "Red Ryder" series, please consult the Series Index and see the entry below for Tucson Raiders.
