Phantom of the Plains
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Lesley Selander
Wild Bill Elliott
Bobby Blake
Alice Fleming
Ian Keith
William Haade
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In 1895, confidence man Fancy Charlie, who has married and murdered many wealthy women, comes to the town of Blue Springs, where he assumes an English accent and the name Talbot Wilberforce Champneys in order to romance the Duchess, a prosperous rancher and businesswoman. The Duchess' other suitors are disgruntled when her engagement to Charlie is announced, and the announcement also shocks her nephew, Red Ryder, and his Indian ward, Little Beaver, who are returning to town after a trip. While Red is in town discussing the situation with friends, Charlie is at the ranch with the Duchess and his confederate Celeste, who is posing as a couturier. Charlie is upset when outlaws Ace Hanlon and Pete Burdett appear at the ranch, for Burdett was once Charlie's cellmate and threatens to expose his scheme if he does not cut him in for a share of the Duchess' money. Charlie refuses, and as Burdett is beating him, Red arrives and captures Burdett, although Hanlon escapes. Red is suspicious of Charlie's claim that Burdett is merely an acquaintence who cheated him in a poker game, but lets Burdett go when Charlie insists. The Duchess is eager for Red to approve of Charlie, but Red is worried that she has been swayed by the promise of an aristocratic lifestyle in England, and knows little about her fiancé. Red's suspicions grow when Charlie beats a horse that afternoon, for as Red points out, the English are well known for their kind treatment of animals. In town, Red wires the British consul for information about "Champneys." Afraid that Red will ruin his plans, Charlie offers Hanlon and Burdett a fifty-percent share of his profits if they "take care" of Red and Little Beaver. Charlie then tells the Duchess that he has to return to England immediately, and she agrees to go with him and be married on the way, despite Red's strenuous objections. After Celeste overhears Red and Little Beaver discussing plans to pick up the reply from the British consul, Hanlon and Burdett ambush them at the telegraph office. Red and Little Beaver are held prisoner over night, and the next morning, Charlie taunts them by congratulating Red on seeing through his act and assuring him that the Duchess will soon be dead. To prevent Charlie from double-crossing them, Hanlon and Burdett intend to keep Red alive until after Duchess has been killed, but Red and Little Beaver succeed in escaping. They chase after the stage carrying the Duchess, Charlie and Celeste, and reach it just as Hanlon is about to kill Charlie for trying to double-cross him. During the ensuing fray, Red shoots Burdett and bests Hanlon in a fight, and the Duchess has the satisfaction of hitting Charlie in the face with their wedding cake.
Director
Lesley Selander
Cast
Wild Bill Elliott
Bobby Blake
Alice Fleming
Ian Keith
William Haade
Virginia Christine
Bud Geary
Henry Hall
Fred Graham
Jack Kirk
Jack Rockwell
Earle Hodgins
Tom London
Crew
Ed Borschell
William Bradford
Hilyard Brown
Thomas A. Carman
Richard Cherwin
Charles Craft
Charles Kenyon
Howard Lydecker
Theodore Lydecker
Bob Mark
Joseph Novak
William J. O'sullivan
Gordon C. Schaefer
Earle Snell
R. G. Springsteen
John Stransky Jr.
Charles Thompson
Don Verk
Howard Wilson
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working titles of this film were Texas Manhunt and Desperadoes of Dakota. The character "Ace Hanlon" also appears in another "Red Ryder" film, The San Antonio Kid, although he is played by Glenn Strange in that picture (see below). Modern sources include Rose Plumer in the cast. For more information on the "Red Ryder" series, please consult the Series Index and see the entry below for Tucson Raiders.
