Powdersmoke Range
Brief Synopsis
Three cowboys buy a ranch but have to fight off gunmen to keep it.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Wallace Fox
Director
Harry Carey
Tucson Smith
Hoot Gibson
Stony Brooke
Guinn Williams
Lullaby Joslin
Bob Steele
Guadalupe Kid [also known as Jeff Ferguson]
Tom Tyler
Sundown Saunders
Film Details
Genre
Western
Release Date
Sep
27,
1935
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel Powdersmoke Range by William Colt MacDonald (New York, 1934).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 12m
Sound
Mono (RCA Victor System)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
6 reels
Synopsis
After cowboys Tucson Smith, Lullaby Joslin and Stony Brooke see outlaw "Fin" Sharkey murder a stagecoach driver, they quickly overwhelm the outlaw. To their surprise, they find an envelope in the stagecoach's mail pouch, which contains a sales receipt in Tucson's name for a thirty-day option on the nearby Tresbarro ranch. With Sharkey in tow, the three men ride to town, where they challenge Brose Glasgow, the corrupt sheriff, and Steve Ogden, the mayor. After forcing Glasgow to put Sharkey in jail, the three cowboys learn that Jeff Ferguson, a former outlaw known as Guadalupe Kid, whom Tucson had recently reformed, had outbid the greedy Ogden for the Tresbarro ranch and then, to prevent Ogden from stopping the deal, had put the option in Tucson's name. Soon after the deal, the ranch's owner was killed, and Jeff, fearing arrest, fled. In Ogden's saloon, Tucson confronts the mayor and demands to see Jeff, who is being held illegally by Glasgow. During the showdown with Ogden and his men, Stony and Lullaby arrive and help Tucson and Jeff overwhelm their foes. The four cowboys then ride to their newly optioned ranch, and Jeff introduces his friends to his sweetheart, Carolyn Sibley, the former owner's ward. Ogden, meanwhile, orders his men to "dry-gulch" Tucson's cowhands and makes a deal with Sundown Saunders to have Tucson murdered. While Tucson is in town investigating the apparent theft of the ranch's deed, he is challenged to an evening showdown by Sundown. Before the gunfight, Jeff tries to convince Sundown to "go straight" and forfeit the fight. Sundown refuses to back down, however, and meets Tucson as planned. Tucson, having deduced that Sundown only fights in the evening because of failing eyesight, fires at him from a distance and wounds him. Then, Tucson takes Sundown to his ranch to recover and asks him to join forces against Ogden. Unwilling to embrace Tucson's ways, Sundown turns him down and prepares to leave just as Glasgow's gang threatens the ranch. During the ensuing hillside shootout, however, Sundown rides up and takes the fatal shot meant for Tucson. After Glasgow's men surrender, Tucson, Lullaby and Stony force a confession out of Glasgow and confront Ogden in his saloon, where he is finally killed. Now the complete, legal owners of the ranch, Tucson, Lullaby and Stony join Carolyn and Jeff as its permanent residents.
Director
Wallace Fox
Director
Cast
Harry Carey
Tucson Smith
Hoot Gibson
Stony Brooke
Guinn Williams
Lullaby Joslin
Bob Steele
Guadalupe Kid [also known as Jeff Ferguson]
Tom Tyler
Sundown Saunders
"boots" Mallory
Carolyn Sibley
Ray Mayer
"Chap" Bell
Sam Hardy
Steve Ogden
Adrian Morris
Brose Glasgow
Buzz Barton
"Bat" Wing
Wally Wales
Aloysius "Bud" Taggart
Art Mix
"Rube" Phelps
Buffalo Bill Jr.
"Tex" Malcolm
Buddy Roosevelt
Auringer
Franklyn Farnum
Jim Reece
William Desmond
"Happy" Hopkins
William Farnum
Banker Orchan
Ethan Laidlaw
"Fin" Sharkey
Eddie Dunn
Jake Elliott
Irving Bacon
Gun store proprietor
Barney Furey
Gus Trout
Henry Rocquemore
Dr. Clem Jones
Frank Rice
"Sourdough" Jenkins
Crew
Film Details
Genre
Western
Release Date
Sep
27,
1935
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel Powdersmoke Range by William Colt MacDonald (New York, 1934).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 12m
Sound
Mono (RCA Victor System)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
6 reels
Articles
Powdersmoke Range
Three cowboys buy a ranch but have to fight off gunmen to keep it.
Powdersmoke Range
Three cowboys buy a ranch but have to fight off gunmen to keep it.
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
William Colt MacDonald's novel Powdersmoke Range was part of his "The Three Mesquiteers" series, and was the second film to be made from the novels. Many reviewers commented on the "all-star" cast, which included many of the Western film stars of the time, as well as many Western stars of the silent film era. According to contemporary news items, location shooting took place in Kernville and Newhall, CA. Modern sources add the following cast members: Robert McKenzie (Stage agent Winters), James Mason (Jordan) Phil Dunham (Barber), Silver Harr (Townsman), Nelson McDowell, Silver Tip Baker and Frank Ellis. For more information on the series, consult the Series Index and for The Three Mesquiteers.
