The Hawk of Wild River

Clayton Moore, the desperado known as the Hawk, has been terrorizing the town of Wild River. Probably that's why this episode of the Charles Starrett/Durango Kid B westerns is called The Hawk Of Wild River (1952). Smiley Burnnette shows up doing tintypes, soon followed by Starrett, who plays his two-toned character with his usual aplomb.

The series was a top moneymaker among B westerns, and given the excellence of the print I saw, it's hardly surprising. Director Fred Sears blends comedy and thrills very well, and DP Fayte M. Browne shows that just because you were stuck in the B westerns didn't mean you couldn't shoot the Iverson Ranch well, whipping the camera around as the horses take a corner during the final chase. Sometimes you forget the essential competence of the staff, given the murky prints fans usually have to put up with.

Unfortunately, the B western was on its last legs. The series would last only another four movies and six months before Columbia closed the series down, and the would-be cowboy stars followed Gene Autry and Roy Rogers into TV.

The Durango Kid is sent to recover stolen gold from an outlaw gang headed by The Hawk who likes to skewer his enemies with a bow and arrow.

A conventional matinée western, "Hawk" had the misfortune of bad timing. It came right at the end of the genre's popularity, when TV was taking over kids viewing. Actually, the movie signals the transition with future TV cowboys Mahoney (The Range Rider) 1953, and Moore (The Lone Ranger) 1949-1957 taking over from Starrett who was rooted in the matinée, this being one of his last films. Thus, it's a kind of look at two entertainment eras. Of course, there's also Autry favorite Smiley Burnette unfortunately appearing in one of his last movie roles.

Actually, it's a decent matinée entry, with enough intrigue and action to keep fans like myself interested. Also, Burnette gets some extended comedic routines that are pretty funny. Too bad his antics often overshadowed what a hugely talented man he was. Maybe most unusual about the entry is the absence of a leading lady. In fact, there are almost no women at all. Frankly, I missed the eye candy. Anyway, the movie can be taken as part of an "adios" to that favorite of several generations-- the matinée western.

The Durango Kid, a.k.a. Steve Martin (Charles Starrett), is sent to the town of Wild River to take care of a gang led by the ruthless Hawk (Clayton Moore, TV's "The Lone Ranger"). He infiltrates The Hawk's gang looking to return stolen gold to Wild River.

The most interesting thing about this Durango Kid entry is that you get Charles Starrett, the Lone Ranger and Jock Mahoney ( the Range Rider) in one film - Clayton Moore is the bad guy called Hawk and Jock Mahoney plays a good guy, the sheriff. It's a pacy entry and has some moments of liveliness. Smiley doesn't sing too many songs and they aren't too good.

One of the best loved & most prolific of western movie series were the Durango Kid films. Charles Starrett starred as the black -masked cowboy hero, righting wrongs and fighting injustice in the old west. His regular sidekick was the great Smiley Burnette, finest of the western comedians !

In this fun, action-filled movie, our two heroes are in all sorts of jams, eventually coralling the bad guy & saving the day. Two beloved western series stars are on hand in the great supporting cast. Clayton Moore (The Lone Ranger) and Jock Mahoney (Range Rider) are featured in this star-studded B-western !

Enjoy this very entertaining tale of the Durango Kid !!!