Return of the Rangers (1943) User Reviews

They're all in this one

[alan-pratt · 6/10 · 5 August 2009]

Take a look at that cast list! It reads like a Who's Who of B western movies.

As well as the trio of stars (O'Brien, Newill and Wilkerson) we have Nell O'Day as the helpless heroine, Emmett Lynn as the comical sheriff, Henry Hall as the crusty judge and a hugely impressive array of bad guys including Glenn Strange, I. Stanford Jolley and Charles King.

Sadly, the plot has all but faded from my memory - nearly 12 hours have elapsed since I ejected the DVD from my player - but, roughly speaking,there's some rustling, some trying to drive people off their ranch and people pretending to be other people. More importantly, though, there are numerous free for alls with fixtures and fittings flying in all directions, countless chases on horseback - guns blazing with nary a reload - and some really nice songs from the ever tuneful Newill.

One of the Better Texas Rangers Horse Operas

[zardoz-13 · 7/10 · 5 June 2012]

The seventh installment in PRC's Texas Rangers franchise, writer and director Elmer Clifton's "Return of the Rangers," qualifies as one of the better entries in this low-budget western series. Our trio of heroes is working undercover in the town of Custer. This time they are out to clear up a crisis that a young woman is having with cattle rustlers. If this weren't enough, the Rangers have to tangle with two sets of villains. First, they have to battle the bad guys who supervise the ranch that our heroine lives on; these dastards want to evict several elderly residents. Second, two sidewinders arrive Custer who rode in with the businessman who supervises the ranch; one of these unscrupulous jaspers who is a doctor impersonates this man after he catches a bullet and dies. No sooner do our heroes show up than one is accused of murder and locked up in the hoosegow while another impersonates a judge to ensure that the former doesn't swing for the crime. Clifton develops more suspense than usual because the Ranger who acts as judge has only a short length of time before his partners can intervene on behalf of the damsel-in-distress. Furthermore, the real judge is due to arrive at any moment. Dave O'Brien, Jim Newell, and Guy Wilkerson play the heroic rangers Dave Wyatt,Jim Steele, and Panhandle Perkins. "Return of the Rangers" treats us to the friendly adversity that occurs among these three, especially when they compel poor Panhandle to impersonate a judge. Interestingly, Panhandle is posing as a magician when he learns that he will have to masquerade as a judge. The villains are well represented by the likes of Glenn Strange, I. Stanford Jolly, and Charles King. Clifton doesn't let the action slow down, and the comic antics of Wilkerson as well as Emmett 'Pappy' Lynn as the town sheriff add to the general air of frivolity. Ironically, "Return of the Rangers" doesn't boast a single steer insight.