The Riders of the Whistling Skull

The Three Mesquiteers accompany an archeological expedition to a lost Indian city of gold called Lukachuke in a mystery western full of humour, intrigue and rollicking action, especially at the end with a landslide. It's called a horror-western but apart from the cursed lost city there isn't much horror. What there is is great landscape, a well-designed lost city and plenty of fun. Definitely top tier of its type.

One of the most interesting of the Three Mesquiteer films has the guys getting involved in an archaeological expedition to find a hidden treasure guarded by a legendary Indian cult, presumably descendants of the Aztecs because they believe in human sacrifice. At least Robert Livingston almost ends up being barbecued at the stake.

Mary Russell's father and his partner went off in search of the cult and the partner came back, but he's murdered in one of those locked room puzzles. Despite or maybe because of the fact the Three Mesquiteers were in the room they go along to find a treasure and capture a killer.

These modern Aztec type cultists have kept up with modern weaponry because of their leader and when you find out who it is that will be self explanatory.

I'm agreeing that the film does resemble some of those cult Kharis mummy films some of which were not all that good. The end is a rather spectacular climax where the cultists are wiped out. Mother nature has more to do with it than the Mesquiteers.

Mesquiteer fans should enjoy this.

Oliver Drake is one of my script-writing heroes, but his work here is just not up to his usual standard. Much of the story doesn't quite hold together, and, besides, it looks like somebody's idea for a serial after somebody (Pappy Yates?) changed his mind.

However, it does star the Three Mesquiteers, and all three get a chance to shine.

In fact, Crash Corrigan even gets to remove his shirt. (What a gorgeous specimen he was, even still when I met him, just a month before he died. He started as a physical fitness expert and continued to take care of himself.)

Probably the best way to enjoy "Riders of the Whistling Skull" is to ignore the story and appreciate the action, of which there is plenty, and the scenery, including the Whistling Skull of the title.

Yakima Canutt is present so you know there will be lots of stunts, and some very good ones.

Another reviewer mentions the "comradery" among the three and it's true there is almost no friction this time, except for a little joshing.

Lullaby, in an interesting change, ends up with a lady, but "ends up" surely means only till the next entry in the series.

It's a rather weak 3M movie, but the series itself was always uneven, with different eras and different roles for the heroes. Still, it's a pleasant enough way to spend about an hour.

The Riders Of The Whistling Skull is The Three Mesquiteers best and most famous adventure and the best B-western of the nineteen-thirties, with more action, thrills, and suspense in it's fifty-three minutes than in all twelve chapters of some of Republic Pictures' serials!

The story involves the Three Mesquiteers and their search for the missing father of a pretty archaeologist, kidnapped by a sinister Indian cult after discovering the lost city of Lukachukai and it's treasure, all surrounding the creepy rock formation known as The Whistling skull.

This is first rate all the way with great locations and lots of weird touches like the cult's ritual dance (with a young Iron Eyes Cody in attendance) and the "mummy" who stands up and brandishes a knife!

I recommend this heartily to fans of B-westerns and to people who want to witness the best that the genre has to offer.

The Three Mesquiteers (Stony, Tucson, & Lullaby) ride with a band of explorers searching for Professor Marsh an archeologist, the father of the female lead, who has discovered a lost city with hidden treasure, but who has been held by a prisoner by an Indian tribe, who has killed Marsh's partner, through a traitor amid the archeology party. Its up to the Mesquiteers to discover the villain among them and save the party from thirst and the murderous rampage of the tribe. Very enjoyable 3M film with nice emphasis of the comradery between the three friends, and also gives a nice glimpse of the style Republic used in their westerns and serials set out west. Wright's direction is quicker than what else I've seen of him, but he rushes through the end which is the drawback of the film. Nice location shooting in Nevada, and a good supporting cast make this one a winner. Rating, based on B westerns, 9.