Snake River Desperadoes (1951) User Reviews

Son Don't Go Near the Indians!

[bsmith5552 · 6/10 · 31 March 2018]

"Snake River Desperadoes" is a better than average late day Durango Kid series western starring Charles Starrett and Smiley Burnette.

It's the old "selling guns to the Indians" plot. The story starts off with young Indian brave Little Hawk (Don Reynolds) racing across country in search of the Durango Kid. Steve Reynolds (Starrett)) just happens along and listens to the youngsters problem. He promises the boy to take his message to Durango (ha ha). Meanwhile Smiley Burnette, in a ridiculous dude outfit, is travelling by stagecoach along with a government agent when they are attacked by "Indians" who are really white men masquerading as such. The government agent is killed and Steve takes over his responsibilities.

Jim Haverly (Monte Blue) and his brother Josh (George Chesebro) run a trading post in the town of Snake River. Jim is a reputed Indian expert who has ties to Chief Black Eagle (Charles Horvath). Josh's son Billy is a close friend of Little Hawk and the two work together along with Durango, to prevent a possible Indian uprising.

Young Billy finds a cache of rifles destined for sale to the Indians. He tells Smiley who with his 'band' members go to the site of Billy's find but are captured by Black Eagle's braves. In spite of Jim Haverly's deal with the chief, Durango negotiates a peace treaty with the chief. Little Hawk helps Smiley escape and................................................................................

Another film in the series where Burnette doesn't wear his traditional costume. Instead he wears a marching band suit for most of the story. And...no female lead in this one either. Good supporting cast led by Monte Blue and George Chesebro. The two youngsters provided heroes for the youngsters of the day. John Pickard and Boyd "Red" Morgan appear as two of the bad guys.

Stock footage was used for the Indian attacks and posse scenes where a large number of riders appear. And Starrett was able to change costumes faster than a speeding bullet.

Snake River Desparadoes

[coltras35 · 7/10 · 6 March 2024]

The owner of the local trading post, Blue plays both sides against the middle by selling guns to Indian chief Charles Horvath so his tribe can defend themselves. Charles Starrett, secretly the masked Durango Kid, is an undercover man with the Department of Indian Affairs who investigates under the guise of a cattleman looking for land.

Snake River Desparadoes is one of the better Durango Kid entries with plenty of chases, shootouts and a hidden main villain - it's sort of interesting that the main villain likes Native American culture, teaches his nephew the war dance, but that's a major red herring. The plot unravels really well, has some fine action and stunt work - check out Durango kid riding through the boardwalk.

Ever hear a polka in a Western?

[classicsoncall · 5/10 · 6 September 2004]

If you've seen one Durango Kid movie, you've seen them all. Here's the deal - in the opening sequence, the Durango Kid rides into town in the guise of his alter-ego. His name usually changes from film to film; in "Snake River Desperados", he goes by Steve Reynolds.

Within the first fifteen minutes, we're treated to a humorous Smiley Burnette song. Sometimes Smiley knows the new man in town, sometimes he doesn't. However at some point they manage to form a casual alliance and go about righting the wrong of the movie. In this case, rancher Jim Haverly (Monte Blue) feigns friendliness to a band of Indians, while inciting his fellow ranchers to inflict damage to the town while dressed up as redskins. Then, Haverly gets to have it both ways by selling guns to Chief Black Eagle, hoping to create a vicious spiral of events.

The Durango Kid is on top of things though, and is aided by two young boys, one an Indian named Little Hawk, and the other the nephew of villain Haverly. Meanwhile, the affable Smiley and his fellow musicians (The Silver Coronet Band!) dress up in their new uniforms and perform, get this - a polka! Burnette is always good for two, sometimes even three musical numbers per show. It's all spirited fun as the the guilty parties are finally uncovered, and The Durango Kid gets to move on to another town, another meeting with Smiley Burnette, and another mission accomplished.

If you like this film, (and I do enjoy these, even if the plot never changes), seek out the Durango films with early film appearances by Clayton Moore and Jock Mahoney. Occasionally Dub Taylor provides the comic relief in place of Smiley Burnette.