Raiders of San Joaquin

An outlaw gang is stealing land under the pretense that they are getting it for a railway in this serviceable Johnny Mack Brown western that has some twist and turns and the usual amiable Tex Ritter turning outlaw to fight injustice, but that doesn't stop him from singing some songs. Johnny Mack Brown plays the hero and does what is expected from: getting to the bottom of this crooked land scene.

In the late 1930s and into the 40s, various studios started pairing various second-tier cowboy stars with one or more second-tier stars. In other words, to keep up with the BIG cowboy stars like Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, studios such as Monogram, Republic and Universal found that pairs of stars were also very lucrative. Trios such as the Range Busters and Three Mesquiteers were very popular as were duos. The duos paired the likes of Hoot Gibson with Tex Ritter, Tim McCoy with Buck Jones and here in "Raiders of San Joaquin" Johnny Mack Brown is paired with Tex Ritter.

Now I should point out that that I've never been a Tex Ritter fan, though here he is better as the secondary star...and providing a few tunes as you'd expect with Ritter.

When the story begins, Gil (Ritter) is being chased by a trio....shooting away from their horses. Rocky and Eustace (Brown and Fuzzy Knight) give chase and try to prevent this stranger from being killed. Soon after, Rocky and Eustace learn that Gil and other ranchers are being harassed by agents who say they are working for the railroad...and they're trying to force everyone to sell. What's next? Well, justice...delivered Johnny Mack Brown style.

There's nothing outstanding or amazing by this B-western...but it is fun and the Brown-Ritter duo work quite well. Worth seeing even though the plot is somewhat familiar.

No need for a spoiler alert as the plot is largely incomprehensible. Suffice to say, it concerns signed and unsigned contracts, transfer of deeds and rights of way.

But, this is, of course a B western so no-one cares as long as all the other ingredients are in place and they are with a vengeance! We have two heroes for the price of one with Johnny Mack Brown and Tex Ritter slugging it out - although they are, of course, ultimately on the same side - Jennifer Holt, who just has to be (for a whole string of reasons) the best leading lady in the entire genre and Fuzzy Knight providing the necessary comic relief with aplomb. There are songs from Knight and the excellent Jimmy Wakely Trio and Tex, in his instantly recognisable style, warbles yet another ditty about a "carefree cowboy".

And despite all of these pleasant diversions, there is still plenty of room for fist fights, chases, holdups, shootouts and out of control stagecoaches before Johnny and Tex bring the bad guys to justice.

One minor quibble, I found George Eldredge (who?) a bit non-descript as the lead villain. But then, I suppose there must have been times when Roy Bancroft was unavailable....

This 1943 entry from Universal rivals Republic for production values and entertainment value. Raiders of San Joaquin stars Johnny Mack Brown and Tex Ritter when both were in their prime, Director Lewis Collins gives both stars their lead and they are excellent. Brown plays the son of a railroad vice president sent by his father to find out why people are losing their ranches for railroad property rights. Ritter turns outlaw after his father is killed protecting their ranch. This is a change of pace for Ritter who usually plays a singing cowboy /lawman.In turn Brown sets out to find the mastermind that causing all the trouble for the ranchers.As for most of "b" westerns,everything is neatly wrapped up in about an hour. The movie features a capable supporting cast led by Fuzzy Knight as comic relief,Jennifer Holt,and the Jimmy Wakely Trio providing some nice singing. Tex Ritter was a very good singer with a warm baritone voice. He provides one nice song for the movie. The movie is lensed by William Sickner in fine fashion,and Hans Salter provides a rousing score.Lots of action and a good example of the "b" western genre from Universal Pictures.

Raiders Of San Joaquin finds Johnny Mack Brown, son of the railroad president doing a job of investigation. Rumors of trouble with railroad getting the right of way has brought Brown in incognito with friends Fuzzy Knight and the Jimmy Wakely Trio for musical interludes.

Tex Ritter and Jennifer Holt are the children of neighboring ranchers who are the last holdouts. When Ritter's father is killed he goes on a rampage.

The railroad's purchasing agent George Eldredge has gone into business on his own. And the one behind him is not the usual sort of villain one found in B westerns of the day.

And with two cowboy heroes it's not really clear who Jennifer Holt is going to wind up with. She's a winner either way.

B western fans will also approve.