Director: RAY NAZARRO. Screenplay: Ed Earl Repp. Film editor: Paul Borofsky. Photography: George F. Kelley. Art director: Charles Clague. Producer: Colbert Clark.
Copyright Columbia Pictures Corp. No New York opening. U.S. release: 20 December 1945. 57 minutes.
COMMENT: Competently directed but somewhat slow "Durango" entry. True, there's a good bit of action. Whilst the first chase is very uninterestingly staged from fixed camera positions, a thrilling buckboard chase - complete with breathtaking running inserts - wipes out that memory later on. And though relying on expertly tailored stock footage, the climax come over effectively too. If only the dialogue sequences were handled a mite faster, the picture would be much improved.
Starrett is top-notch as usual, and seemingly performs many of his hazardous stunts. The support cast, however, is something else again. Tex Harding appears as an evil-looking sub-hero, displaying all the acting nous of a block of granite; whilst Dub Taylor strikes us an inferior substitute for the far more versatile Smiley Burnette. As for the heroine essayed by Miss Nanette Parks, we can only assume she is some Columbia Pictures executive's girlfriend, for if ever an undistinguished lass stood before the "Durango" cameras that lass is surely the said N.P.
On the other hand, Spade Cooley ("The King of Western Swing") and Carolina Cotton contribute some pleasant vocalizing. The background music itself is nostalgically easy on the ear.
As for technical credits, tatty interiors are happily offset by Kelley's generally crisp photography.
Copyright Columbia Pictures Corp. No New York opening. U.S. release: 20 December 1945. 57 minutes.
COMMENT: Competently directed but somewhat slow "Durango" entry. True, there's a good bit of action. Whilst the first chase is very uninterestingly staged from fixed camera positions, a thrilling buckboard chase - complete with breathtaking running inserts - wipes out that memory later on. And though relying on expertly tailored stock footage, the climax come over effectively too. If only the dialogue sequences were handled a mite faster, the picture would be much improved.
Starrett is top-notch as usual, and seemingly performs many of his hazardous stunts. The support cast, however, is something else again. Tex Harding appears as an evil-looking sub-hero, displaying all the acting nous of a block of granite; whilst Dub Taylor strikes us an inferior substitute for the far more versatile Smiley Burnette. As for the heroine essayed by Miss Nanette Parks, we can only assume she is some Columbia Pictures executive's girlfriend, for if ever an undistinguished lass stood before the "Durango" cameras that lass is surely the said N.P.
On the other hand, Spade Cooley ("The King of Western Swing") and Carolina Cotton contribute some pleasant vocalizing. The background music itself is nostalgically easy on the ear.
As for technical credits, tatty interiors are happily offset by Kelley's generally crisp photography.
