Ghost Town Gold

Ghost Town Gold (1936)

** (out of 4)

After being thrown out of a city, some men rob the local bank so that its president (who is also the Mayor) will come under fire of the locals. The Three Mesquiteers end up coming to his rescue by trying to track down the real crooks. Republic made fifty-one films in this series and GHOST TOWN GOLD was actually the second of the long running series. Outside the nice title, there's very little going on in this "B" Western, which features pretty much nothing but one cliché after another. If there's a prime example of a by-the-numbers Western then this here is probably just that. I think it's safe to say that this here is one of the least interesting entries in the series for a number of reason. The biggest is that Robert Livingston, Ray Corrigan and Max Terhune just weren't at their full strength in regards to their chemistry. I think the three of them lacked any charm as they went from one scene to the next and it really did come across as the trio trying to find the right touches. I thought the three of them delivered fine performances on their own but they just weren't quite clicking when it came time to have the three acting together. Another problem is that the story itself is just pretty much dead on arrival. Not once do you really care about the banker so you don't care if his name is cleared or not. You really don't care about the town and its people so again, you really don't care if their problem gets solved. The action is also pretty lacking in regards to excitement. GHOST TOWN GOLD is a film that's only going to appeal to fans of the genre but I doubt even they will find it too entertaining.

Having just earned a tidy sum for the sale of some cattle, two cowboys named "Tucson Smith" (Ray Corrigan) and "Stony Brooke" (Robert Livingston) send their friend "Lullaby Joslin" (Max Terhune) into a nearby town to deposit their check. However, rather than going directly to the bank, Lullaby decides to spend some time in a nearby saloon playing poker instead. As a result, when both Tucson and Stony finally get to town, they find out that Lullaby hasn't deposited their check yet. So, once they finally find him, they all venture over to the bank only to discover that the bank was just robbed. Recognizing how this affects some of their friends in town, the Three Mesquiteers set off to find the outlaws who robbed the bank and return the money to its proper place. What they don't count on, however, is the fact that an old prospector named "Jake Rawlins" (Milburn Morante) has already found the money and hidden it in an old ghost town several miles away--and this creates all kinds of problems for everyone concerned. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was an okay western for the most part with both Ray Corrigan and Robert Livingston putting in their usual solid performances. Likewise, having an attractive actress like Kay Hughes (as "Sabina Thornton") certainly didn't hurt either. Admittedly, I didn't especially care for the corny ventriloquist acts of Lullaby Joslin but, even so, this wasn't a bad Western by any means, and I have rated it accordingly. Average.

The Mesquiteers display a lot of personality, and Tucson Smith in particular displays a lot of his physique, but the script is rather muddled, especially in the big gun battle at the end.

Still, it is the Mesquiteers so it is very much worth watching.

Not just the boys, but the entire cast is first rate, with the great stunt man Yakima Canutt, to name one, getting credit, but being listed last.

Hank Worden, who went on to screen immortality, gets a humorous bit part, uncredited, and other great cowboy players include Earle Hodgins, I. Stanford Jolley, Wally West, Wally Wales, and Edward Peil.

The leading lady, Kay Hughes, is a lovely lass I know nothing about, but she has 28 credits here at IMDb.

There is one error in the IMDb listing of cast members: Elmer, the puppet, is actually listed in the very opening credits, right alongside Max Terhune. And fortunately, in "Ghost Town Gold" Elmer is not as intrusive as sometimes.

I saw this in a rather poor print at YouTube and might have liked it better in a better print. But I liked it and do recommend it.

Joseph Kane does well in this early "Three Mequiteers" film with Stony (Robert Livingston), Tucson (Ray 'Crash' Corrigan) and Lullaby (Max Terhune) with the introduction of dummy Elmer. Max almost loses payroll and a bank robbery sets things in fast motion. Lovely and talented Kay Hughes is the prettiest teller in the west while Burr Caruth holds the fort at the bank. Our favorite villain LeRoy Mason also has the best henchmen in Yak and Bob Kortman. Milburn Morante, Hank Worden, Wally West, Edward Peil Sr., and Earle Hodgins round out an incredible cast.

The Three Mesquiteers find themselves in Ghost Town Gold trying to save the reputation of the mayor and bank president of a small boom town. After the bank is held up during a night robbery Burr Caruth's reputation is on the line. There's a big prize fight being held that night and the bet money is being held by the bank.

Speaking of the prize fight Ray Corrigan has to get into the ring as one of the fighters backs out. That makes it real personal for the Mesquiteers.

The key to the whole situation is desert rat Milburn Morante who holds up in a nearby ghost town. The bad guys hide the loot, but he finds it. It all makes for a bit more plot than one usually finds in a B western.

Best part of the film is the climax race back to town with the stolen money before the bank is supposed to open. I do love some of the tactics employed by the Mesquiteers to slow down the pursuing robbers.

I think you'll enjoy it too.