The Arizona Ranger

RKO's post World War II Tim Holt/Richard Martin series produced some of the best B-westerns of the '40s, and this was one, supposedly the first movie in which a father and son played a father and son (former leading man Jack Holt and son Tim). Way ahead of its time, it deals with everything from the generation gap to spouse abuse. The hero even falls for a married woman, normally a no-no in formula series westerns. What's more, he doesn't win a single fight -- but he still comes out on top. Great cast, including Paul Hurst (Monte Hale's movie sidekick), Robert Bray (of future "Lassie" fame), Steve Brodie, and Richard Martin as Chito Jose Gonzales Bustamonte Rafferty, a role he had in three series (the earlier ones being with Robert Mitchum and James Warren).

The Arizona Ranger is directed by John Rawlins and written by Norman Houston. It stars Tim Holt, Jack Holt, Nan Leslie, Richard Martin, Steve Brodie and Paul Hurst. Music is by Paul Sawtell and cinematography by J. Roy Hunt.

Returning home from his service with the Rough Riders, Bob Morgan falls out with his father when he announces that he does not want to work on the family ranch. He instead has signed up to become one of the Arizona Rangers, which is timely as there is a nefarious element operating in the area, the leader of which has a wife that seems to need Bob's help.

Clocking in at just over an hour in length, it's surprising to find that this "B" Western has more to offer than merely yee-haw histrionics. There's a well written and emotionally fraught father and son dynamic here, being played by real life father and son Jack and Tim Holt, while the role of lone female Nan Leslie rises well above being just a piggy in the middle romantic token - with a spousal abuse angle adding some potency to the pressure cooker atmosphere.

On the flip-side there's enough 1940s style Western staples to cheer the genre faithful. Fist-fights aplenty, hold-ups, shoot-outs, a jailbreak and a whole ream of quality horsemanship on show, both solo and via wagons and carriages. It's also got some genuine smile inducing humour, normally when Richard Martin's Chito Rafferty is involved, and Brodie as a bully boy serves further notice to what an icon of bad guy roles he was in the 40s and 50s.

With the lovely Santa Clarita backdrop helping to keep the tech credits high, and the expert use of the word lollygagging! This is a thoroughly enjoyable Oater yarn, one that's not without some screenplay smarts either. 7/10

This movie was part of Tim Holt's post-World War II western series at RKO, and arguably one of the best. It featured his father, former silent star and later character actor Jack Holt, playing his father, a big rancher who believes in handling his own problems without the law's help. When his son (played by Tim) returns with two buddies from the Spanish-American War and helps form the Arizona Rangers instead of returning to the ranch, their conflict is inevitable -- especially when Tim falls for Nan Leslie as the abused wife of rustler Steve Brodie. Ironically, Tim must save Brodie from being lynched by Jack at one point. The movie is rich in characters: Richard Martin as Chito Rafferty, Tim's traditional sidekick in the series, becomes part of the team including Tim's two soldier buddies. Paul Hurst, a fine actor later to become Monte Hale's co-star at Republic, is Jack Holt's grumpy ranch foreman. Although this was a B-western, the script was "A" quality, and the finale when father and son reunite to fight the outlaws is always good for an audience cheer.

Rough Rider Tim Holt returns from the Spanish American War with a mission from none other than Colonel Roosevelt himself. To join the newly formed Arizona Rangers and head the branch in his area. That goes counter to the plans of his reel and real father Jack Holt who runs the local Ponderosa and is his own law enforcement.

It also gets downright personal when Nan Leslie the long suffering wife of outlaw Steve Brodie takes an interest in the new Ranger captain and vice versa. Brodie is the man rustling Jack's cattle and generally responsible for all the outlaw activity.

Arizona Ranger is your typically tightly edited and efficient Tim Holt western and good for his legion of fans.

Bob Morgan (Tim Holt) returns home with some friends from serving in the army and finds himself immediately in a fight when he spots local badman Quirt Butler (Steve Brodie) attacking his own wife Laura (Nan Leslie) with a whip. But it is not the only trouble which Bob finds himself in back home as his father Rawhide Morgan (Jack Holt) is an old fashioned cowboy who is use to taking the law in to his own hands and when Bob says he is off to head up the local peace keeping Rangers they have a falling out. Things get worse when between Bob and Laura starting to fall for each other and Quirt escaping from Bob's custody it leads to Bob going it alone to bring him in.

The Arizona Rangers has a hefty story with some dramatic flourish, more than the usual found in a Tim Holt western. Jack Holt plays a rancher called Rawhide- he is an irascible coot who is very much disappointed and angry with his son (Tim Holt) for wanting to join the rangers instead of working on his ranch. Rawhide is fairly irrational in view but that makes the characterisation even more interesting and the fact that he can't understand his son's need to go down his own path is a human failing. Adding to the drama, albeit with a darker feel, is the abusive relationship of Butler (Steve Brodie) with his wife Laura (Nan Leslie); indeed, Bob stops Butler from manhandling his wife in the middle of town. Unspoken, burgeoning feelings occur between Bob and Laura, and her husband noticed this, hence she has to lie about her husband's whereabouts to save Bob's life.

Amidst this drama, there's enough shootouts and riding to keep the average sagebrush oater fans happy - the Arizona Rangers is a fast-paced and well-acted western with tense moments, great locations and a decent mixture of subplots. One of Tim Holt's best.