Chip of the Flying U

Duncan is secretly shipping explosives by ship and needs the Flying U ranch which has shore access. Chip breaks up his murder and robbery attempts and eventually captures two of his henchman. Duncan has to show his hand to rescue his men and now Chip and the posse know who they are after.

Hand grenades and modern dresses (for 1930's) in this Johnny Mack Brown western is confusing as I'm not sure if this is a modern western opposed to set in 1880, but it's enjoyable enough with some decent action and plotting. Nothing lingers afterwards but these 60 minute westerns offer some clean and fast riding entertainment without too much characterisation and nuances.

Johnny Mack Brown is in the title role of Chip Of The Flying U and he's foreman of that particular spread running it for Forrest Taylor. But soon he may have two bosses as Taylor's much younger half sister is coming to town.

Doris Weston is the sister and she and Brown don't really hit off, she kind of likes young Bob Baker who has a song for all occasions.

But romance is hardly the main thing Brown has on his mind. He's been fitted out for a frame of a bank robbery. He gets out of that easily enough but the villains have a scheme that involves more than just a bank robbery.

Fuzzy Knight is the sidekick and cook at the Taylor/Weston ranch and he always has a comic song or two himself. He's also trying to master a rope trick that keeps backfiring on him.

Enough action for any front row kid in 1939 or today.