If you are a fan of Tim McCoy films, you'll be happy to see this is another installment of his 'Lightning Bill' Carson series. These are generally among his best films--with better than normal plots and action. And, in some of them, Carson is a master of disguise. In all, he made 9 films in this series and I've now seen all but one of them. The original film, "Lightnin' Bill Carson" (1936) is the only one I have not yet seen and it's not currently available through Netflix.
Sadly, while this is a good film, 'Lightning Bill' does not dress up in any outlandish ethnic costumes. In a few others, he played a Mexican bandit--and was highly entertaining. In one, he played an Asian--and the less said about that, the better! The film begins with Carson dressing up as 'The Phantom'--a hooded guy who is decried by some to be a bandit. But, since Bill Carson is ALWAYS a good guy, you know something is amiss--either folks are lying or someone is posing as this Phantom. So, through much of the film, he's NOT in costume--otherwise he'd get his head blown off or he'd be hung. In this film, you don't learn about his mission until late in the film--apparently a Ranger who was his friend was murdered and the trail leads to this town. As usual, as Bill walks about town, his partner, Magpie (Ben Corbett), is undercover--keeping his eyes and ears open for any leads.
This is a pretty good film. The real-life trick shooting McCoy uses not only his fast guns but fists in this one. As a result, his character is tougher than the sort you'd see from Gene Autry or Roy Rogers--plus there's no singing (I liked this). Overall, a very decent entry into the series--well worth seeing even if it is a bit familiar (of course, ALL B-westerns are pretty familiar).
Sadly, while this is a good film, 'Lightning Bill' does not dress up in any outlandish ethnic costumes. In a few others, he played a Mexican bandit--and was highly entertaining. In one, he played an Asian--and the less said about that, the better! The film begins with Carson dressing up as 'The Phantom'--a hooded guy who is decried by some to be a bandit. But, since Bill Carson is ALWAYS a good guy, you know something is amiss--either folks are lying or someone is posing as this Phantom. So, through much of the film, he's NOT in costume--otherwise he'd get his head blown off or he'd be hung. In this film, you don't learn about his mission until late in the film--apparently a Ranger who was his friend was murdered and the trail leads to this town. As usual, as Bill walks about town, his partner, Magpie (Ben Corbett), is undercover--keeping his eyes and ears open for any leads.
This is a pretty good film. The real-life trick shooting McCoy uses not only his fast guns but fists in this one. As a result, his character is tougher than the sort you'd see from Gene Autry or Roy Rogers--plus there's no singing (I liked this). Overall, a very decent entry into the series--well worth seeing even if it is a bit familiar (of course, ALL B-westerns are pretty familiar).
