Both Barrels Blazing

Both Barrels Blazing (1945)

** (out of 4)

A gang is stealing gold from the railroad so Kip Allen (Charles Starrett) must sneak into New Mexico and try to find out who's behind it. Soon he must turns into The Durango Kid and try to bring the bad guys down. BOTH BARRELS BLAZING was the second film in the "new" series from Columbia and it's a minor step down from the first. I can't say this is a bad movie but it just doesn't have enough interesting or original things in it to make it stand out from countless others out there. I thought Starrett was in fine form as he once again fit the double role quite nicely. I thought he was very believable in both parts and he's at least entertaining enough to bring you into the material. Tex Harding and Dub Taylor both add nice support but it's just not enough to save the film. The biggest problem is that the story itself just isn't all that interesting and there weren't any moments that really jumped out and made you enjoy the film more. Yes, we get some gunfights and other forms of violence but nothing here stands out either. This is certainly far from being a horrid movie or an unwatchable one. The 57-minute running time goes quickly enough to where fans of the genre should find it watchable but others might want to stay clear.

Kip Allen aka The Durango Kid(Charles Starrett)uncovers the smuggling of stolen U.S. minted gold. A ring of greedy cowpokes use an old prospector named Grubstake(Emmett Lynn)as the front for the transport of stolen gold supposedly from his "lost mine". He goes along with the plot in order to impress his visiting daughter Gail played by Pat Parrish. The Durango Kid is also a Texas Ranger and off handedly has help from Tex Harding in uncovering the dirty dealin's going on. Tex appears to be in competition for the interest of Grubstake's daughter Gail and is none too shy in joining in with singing with a group of talented ranch hands(The Jesters). Al Bridge is flawless as the villain Lucky. Also of note is the comic relief provided by the absent minded Cannonball(Dub Taylor). No real surprises here. Just your typical western of the 40s lasting about 97 minutes.

I liked this movie mainly because my father is in it. He had a small bit part but his main role was as the singing voice for Tex Harding. He sings for Tex in all the Durango Kid movies. I find Tex to be a little "wooden" as an actor but his singing voice is great! Charles Starrett is a very good actor and I have always liked him. I was on the set of the Durango Kid movies as a child and got an autographed picture of Tex Harding (Unfortunately I no longer have this picture). I would recommend this movie to those who like Westerns. It has some humor and take a good look at Tex Harding's horse. I never saw a horse with such beautiful markings. And of course I would recommend this movie to those who can appreciate a good baritone singing voice, the voice of James T."Bud" Nelson. A listing of my father's movies is available on this site also.

The outlaw gangs are robbing the railroads and the Rangers cannot follow them when they move to New Mexico. So Kip decides to take a vacation to New Mexico and, as the Durango Kid, bring Cass and his gang back to justice. But Cass and his gang are killed at the bank in a double cross and Kip must still find the loot. For this, he enlists the help of Tex and Grubstake, although Grubstake does not know it.

I love the Durango Kid westerns, they're fine western action fun executed in comic book style, but this entry is adequate, has some exciting moments, and some songs to boot, possibly too many songs, however, overall it passes the time.