The Blazing Trail

Smiley is the local newspaperman in this serial with some chases, fistfights, shooting, and some exceptional, moribund novelty songs sung by the only actor who seems really awake, Smiley. Some funny scenes, but strictly standard kiddie fare.

Old Mike Brady built Brady Town and was a leader, but a bullet from an unknown assailant has ended his life. When the will is read, it leaves the bulk of the property to Kirk, the gambling son of Mike. This upsets Sam, the hard working son, but not gambler Full House who always beats Kirk at cards. But even the Sheriff is suspicious of the will, but he needs proof and the Durango Kid will find the proof.

I reckon this is a better than average Durango Kid western that scales back the action and introduces a mystery angle with various suspects in who killed Old Mike Brady, who had made a will to his kinfolk. The Durango kid collects each suspects gun shells, investigates - well as Marshal Steve - and eventually it leads him to the culprit. The musical interludes don't interfere too much and Smiley does his usual comic turn as a newspaperman- funny scene is when he dons difference disguises but everyone recognises him!

This Durango Kid feature looks like it might have been put together out of snips from other movies, with a couple of purpose-shot scenes to make it hold together. Was it Selznick or Thalberg who said "Good movies aren't made -- they're remade in the editing room"? Starrett spent ten years in the top Western star polls, and his movies were undoubtedly profitable, but while other B western stars like John Wayne and Randolph Scott kept ahead of inflation by moving into the As, Starrett stayed profitable because Columbia seemed to cut his budget.

The best part of this movie are the musical interludes. Smiley Burnette is on tap as a reporter for comic relief, but he tries too hard for my taste.