Steve Martin (Charles Starrett) is sent to Wild River to recover stolen gold and finds the town is being terrorized by The Hawk (Clayton Moore) and his outlaw gang. The Hawk attempts to murd... Read allSteve Martin (Charles Starrett) is sent to Wild River to recover stolen gold and finds the town is being terrorized by The Hawk (Clayton Moore) and his outlaw gang. The Hawk attempts to murder Sheriff Jack Mahoney (Jock Mahoney) and is captured and jailed. Steve helps the Hawk br... Read allSteve Martin (Charles Starrett) is sent to Wild River to recover stolen gold and finds the town is being terrorized by The Hawk (Clayton Moore) and his outlaw gang. The Hawk attempts to murder Sheriff Jack Mahoney (Jock Mahoney) and is captured and jailed. Steve helps the Hawk break jail and thus makes contact with the bandit gang. He sends a bungling photographer, Sm... Read all
- Jack Mahoney
- (as Jack Mahoney)
- Skeeter - Henchman
- (as Edwin Parker)
- Deputy
- (uncredited)
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
- Deputy Pete
- (uncredited)
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
- Duke - Henchman
- (uncredited)
- George - Storekeeper
- (uncredited)
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
- Deputy
- (uncredited)
- Sheriff Clark Mahoney
- (uncredited)
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
- Liveryman
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
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 !!!
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 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.
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.
Did you know
- TriviaAlthough Smiley usually recognizes whatever hero named Steve (last names fungible) Starrett is playing from prior adventures, this is the third time Jock Mahoney played a guy named Jack Mahoney alongside them in the Durango Kid series, with no regard to what he did or who he was in the other two.
- GoofsWhen Steve Martin goes into the general store and picks out a bone handled 44-40 from the showcase, he loads two bullets into the chamber and proceeds to fire three shots.
- SoundtracksChief Pocatello from the Cherokees
Written by Smiley Burnette
Details
- Runtime53 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1