Laura's Miscellaneous Musings: Tonight's Movie: Dude Cowboy (1941)

Monday, July 28, 2014

Tonight's Movie: Dude Cowboy (1941)

DUDE COWBOY is a breezy Tim Holt Western which provides an enjoyable 59 minutes.

Having recently seen a couple of disappointing Westerns, it was a treat to watch a Western which was simple but lively and well-made.

Terry McVey (Holt) is on the trail of an engraver, Frank Adams (Byron Foulger), who's been kidnapped and forced to make counterfeit plates. Adams sneaks his initials into the plates as a sign he's making them against his will.

The investigation brings Terry and his pal Smokey (Ray Whitley) to a dude ranch, where they meet lovely Bernice (Marjorie Reynolds of HOLIDAY INN). Terry and Smokey don't know that Bernice is actually Barbara Adams, daughter of the missing engraver. Terry and Barbara's paths ultimately cross as they find the bad guys' hideout.

This is a pleasant little movie, though it lacks any notable location shooting or anything especially distinguishing. Tim is perpetually amused, Ray sings some catchy tunes, and Marjorie's spunky and lovely. It's simply a nice way to pass an hour.

Incidentally, the movie seems to have been made in the "Roy Rogers Zone," that magical time period when there are telephones but everyone still rides around on horseback!

DUDE COWBOY was filmed on Southern California movie ranches by Harry J. Wild, who would go on to shoot many notable film noir titles for RKO.

This was sadly the last film directed by David Howard, who died at the age of 45 just days after the release of DUDE COWBOY. He had spent the previous few years working almost exclusively with George O'Brien and Tim Holt.