Tonight's Movie: The Cherokee Strip (1937) - A Warner Archive DVD Review

THE CHEROKEE STRIP (1937) is a pleasant title in the 12-film Dick Foran Western Collection, available from the Warner Archive.

THE CHEROKEE STRIP, not to be confused with CHEROKEE STRIP (1940) starring Richard Dix, is set during the Oklahoma land rush. Foran plays Dick Hudson, a lawyer who sets up shop in a brand-new little town where bad guys (led by Ed Cobb) swindle some folks out of their land claims.

Dick has a sparring relationship with fiesty settler Janie Walton (Jane Bryan), but as her little brother (Tommy Bupp) perceptively tells Dick, Janie wouldn't be spending time with Dick if she didn't like him.

There's some singing, some romancing, and some action, with stock footage used for the land rush scenes. This 55-minute film won't win any awards, but it's the kind of undemanding entertainment I enjoy at the end of a busy day.

Dick's friend Tom is played by David Carlyle, who was later known as Robert Paige (CAN'T HELP SINGING). Tom's wife Ruth is played by Helen Valkis, later known as Joan Valerie. One of the things I enjoy about a "B" film like this is getting a look at young actors like Bryan and Paige early in their careers, not to mention seeing actors before they undergo name changes!

The cast also includes Frank Faylen, Tom Brower, Joseph Crehan, and Milton Kibbee. I wouldn't be surprised if Kibbee -- brother of the better-known Guy -- has been in all of the Foran Westerns I've seen to date. He was in nearly 400 films!

The movie was filmed by L.W. O'Connell and directed by Noel Smith.

Previous reviews in the Dick Foran Western Collection: MOONLIGHT ON THE PRAIRIE (1935), CALIFORNIA MAIL (1936), and LAND BEYOND THE LAW (1937).

The Warner Archive DVD is a fine print, and the disc includes the trailer.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this DVD collection. Warner Archive releases are MOD (manufactured on demand) and may be ordered from the Warner Archive Collection at the WBShop.