Tom Denton and Soapy come across a friend Bob Allen with a bullet in his back. Before dying, Allen says he's a Texas Ranger traveling incognito to the town of Rio to drive out the outlaw elements and gives his identification to Tom. Tom and Soapy arrive in Rio and the former is appointed sheriff, when Mason (hidden outlaw leader) notices Allen's identification on Tom. Mason believes Tom will end up like all the other sheriffs (pushing up daisies on Boot Hill), but Tom and Soapy start enforcing the law and Mason decides Tom is to be eliminated. Mason sees an opportunity when Rattler (gunhand and the murderer of Allen) finds out that Tom is not really Allen and has Mary (Allen's sister) accuse him of his brother's murder. Routine oater with little nuances and twists to make it stand out. Tyler is good as usual and watching him here makes you wish he were in movies with better production values, which this clearly does not have. The set up for the ending is good, but the end seems ordinary. Nice comic relief from the "Singing Smith Brothers" who shoot or fight anyone who thinks their singing is terrible. (They would be fighting 24/7) Rating, based on B-westerns, 4
4 Reviews
Top of the class!
JohnHowardReid12 September 2015
Warning: Spoilers
One of Tom Tyler's best films, this one was directed by producer, Bernard B. Ray, of all people, here masquerading as "Franklin Shamray". I don't know why Mr. Ray wanted to hide his contribution under a pseudonym. I've seen at least three or four lousy movies for which he was credited as director, so why he wanted to hide the fact when he actually did a very good job is mystifying, to say the least. Of course, Mr. Ray did have an exciting, well-written script to start with, and he actually ended up with a great cast of seasoned players, so he was well ahead before he even entered the cutting room. The pacing is very good indeed and would do credit to a major production. The cast is great too. Of course, personable Tom Tyler easily steals the film as hero-of-the-day, but nevertheless, he gets excellent support from the entire cast, particularly Eddie Gribbon as his sidekick – one of the few major roles he landed in a career that embraced 204 credits extending from 1916 through 1951. And the heroine is one of my favorites, namely Marion Shilling. In this one, although she makes a late entrance, she has quite a decent role. All told, a top "B" western, crowded with action and a cast as long as a bull-whip. Available on an excellent Alpha DVD. True, the film runs only 54 minutes and has no support feature which is usually the case at Alpha, but it's a top-of-the-class entry and well worth the money.
Excellent, despite very low budget
morrisonhimself1 April 2015
Tom Tyler was a good actor who, in my opinion, deserved better. His distinctive voice should have helped him toward stardom, but possibly held him back because it was distinctive.
"Rio Rattler" had a really good cast, even though most of the people are generally unknown today, except to fans and historians. They didn't get fame, but they sure had talent.
The script is also surprisingly well done, even if the story itself is much like many others, which is OK by me anyway.
But there is some nice byplay among various groups of characters, again belying the budget and demonstrating some skillful writing and directing and, yes, acting.
Watch, for example, when a tall, thin, vulture-like character, dressed in black and wearing a top hat, enters the hotel while Tom and Soapy are registering. He is Nelson McDowell, and you know immediately what his role is because he has been thus cast so many times.
And he is perfect. (As many times as I have seen him, I never knew his name before. God bless IMDb!)
Lafe McKee, here billed as Lafayette McKee, is the hotel manager, and ubiquitous Tom London (One source credits him with some 2,000 movies!) is playing a strong and good character (a Ranger, by the way, not a marshal), to name just two familiar faces who help make this such an excellent film.
One aspect of this movie that fascinates me is the moving camera. That is not usually a feature of movies with such a small budget, and from a non-studio.
Director Bernard Ray, known for some reason here as Franklin Shamray, obviously understands his job, as witness the moving camera and general framing of shots. I never knew his name before, but now want to know more about him and his career. His work on "Rio Rattler" intrigues me.
"Rio Rattler" is available in a rather poor print at YouTube, but it is worth the pops and poor contrast and breaks in movement to watch this excellent B western, and I highly recommend it.
"Rio Rattler" had a really good cast, even though most of the people are generally unknown today, except to fans and historians. They didn't get fame, but they sure had talent.
The script is also surprisingly well done, even if the story itself is much like many others, which is OK by me anyway.
But there is some nice byplay among various groups of characters, again belying the budget and demonstrating some skillful writing and directing and, yes, acting.
Watch, for example, when a tall, thin, vulture-like character, dressed in black and wearing a top hat, enters the hotel while Tom and Soapy are registering. He is Nelson McDowell, and you know immediately what his role is because he has been thus cast so many times.
And he is perfect. (As many times as I have seen him, I never knew his name before. God bless IMDb!)
Lafe McKee, here billed as Lafayette McKee, is the hotel manager, and ubiquitous Tom London (One source credits him with some 2,000 movies!) is playing a strong and good character (a Ranger, by the way, not a marshal), to name just two familiar faces who help make this such an excellent film.
One aspect of this movie that fascinates me is the moving camera. That is not usually a feature of movies with such a small budget, and from a non-studio.
Director Bernard Ray, known for some reason here as Franklin Shamray, obviously understands his job, as witness the moving camera and general framing of shots. I never knew his name before, but now want to know more about him and his career. His work on "Rio Rattler" intrigues me.
"Rio Rattler" is available in a rather poor print at YouTube, but it is worth the pops and poor contrast and breaks in movement to watch this excellent B western, and I highly recommend it.
Tom and Soapy in a snake pit
frank41223 June 2020
Tom Tyler shows his great acting chops backed up by an all-star cast. Eddie Gribbon from the Keystone Cops and the Singing Smith brothers give some great comic relief. Tyler's got some trouble when the man of thousands of films and the Texas Ranger (Tom London) is killed. Mason (William Gould) tries to frame him and none other than real cowboy Slim Whittaker is hunting him down. Even bigger trouble when the gorgeous heroine (Marion Shilling) thinks he killed her brother. Lafe McKee as Pops rounds out a wonderful cast.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
