Texas Pioneers

The first western ever released by Monogram Pictures co-starred Bill Cody and young Andy Shuford, whose "Bill and Andy" series was eventually concluded with "Texas Pioneers." Monogram's first two series of program westerns (those of Cody, and another group starring Tom Tyler) were released in 1931-32, but replaced the following season by "B" features with Rex Bell and Bob Steele. Ironically, the last of the "Bill and Andy" westerns was among the better received of the group, although director Harry Fraser's story adheres very closely to one of the genre's time-honored and often-utilized plotlines.

Cody is the much-admired Army officer who, in order to get the goods on treasonous scout Collins (LeRoy Mason) and his reprehensible cohort (Frank Lackteen), feigns defying military orders and being ejected from the service. It is, of course, a ruse designed to gain the confidence of the scout, who is providing guns to renegades from a tribe residing near the fort.

Colonel Thomas (John Elliott) has a charming daughter, Nancy (Sheila Bromley), who is in love with Bill. The latter also has a blood brother (Iron Eyes Cody) who risks his life to promote peace. The efforts of Bill, with assistance from Andy, to protect both the fort and a wagon train from a fearful attack and to stop the dastardly Collins from his nefarious plot, occupy most of the footage.

Mr. Fraser does an above-average job in incorporating appropriate stock footage from silent pictures, giving the film - in the estimate of several reviewers of the day - a more impressive appearance than one expects in a series western. Imaginative photography, plus the vigorous action footage from past productions, give the last "Bill and Andy" western a more lavish look than its budget might otherwise permit. Cody and Mason make good adversaries, and Sheila Bromley - who enjoyed a lengthy career as both leading lady and fine character actress - is effective in one of her earlier performances. Harry Allen has a pleasing bit as a sergeant of Scottish descent, who teaches red-headed Andy a new tap-dance routine. As Cody and Shuford save the day for their final Monogram fade-out, they conclude the studio's initial cowboy series on an entirely positive note.