The year 1940 in film involved some significant events, including the premieres of the Walt Disney films Pinocchio and Fantasia.
James Oliver Curwood was an American action-adventure writer and conservationist. His books were often based on adventures set in the Hudson Bay area, the Yukon or Alaska and ranked among the top-ten best sellers in the United States in the early and mid 1920s, according to Publishers Weekly. At least one hundred and eighty motion pictures have been based on or directly inspired by his novels and short stories; one was produced in three versions from 1919 to 1953. At the time of his death, Curwood was the highest paid author in the world.
Kenneth Olin Maynard was an American actor and producer. He was mostly active from the 1920s to the 1940s and considered one of the biggest Western stars in Hollywood.
Winners of the West is a 1940 American Western film serial from Universal Pictures directed by Ford Beebe and Ray Taylor. It stars Dick Foran and Anne Nagel in a plot about the construction of a railroad and a local ganglord who opposes it. It was Universal's 115th serial release.
Brand of the Devil is a 1944 American Western film written by Elmer Clifton and directed by Harry L. Fraser. The film stars Dave O'Brien, James Newill and Guy Wilkerson, with Ellen Hall, I. Stanford Jolley and Charles King. The film was released on July 30, 1944, by Producers Releasing Corporation.
Hermon Reed Howes was an American model who later became an actor in silent and sound films.
Riders of the Sage is a 1939 American Western film produced and directed by Harry S. Webb starring Bob Steele. The film is a remake of Ridin' Law (1930) and Rusty Rides Alone (1933).
Phantom Rancher is a 1940 American Western film directed by Harry L. Fraser and starring Ken Maynard.
Death Rides the Range is a 1939 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield. It was a Colony Pictures film.
Six Shootin' Sheriff is a 1938 American Western film directed and written by Harry L. Fraser, and starring Ken Maynard and Marjorie Reynolds.
Death Valley Rangers is a 1943 American Western film directed by Robert Emmett Tansey and starring Ken Maynard, Hoot Gibson and Bob Steele.
Ambush Trail is a 1946 American Western film directed by Harry L. Fraser and written by Elmer Clifton. The film stars Bob Steele, Syd Saylor, I. Stanford Jolley, Lorraine Miller, Charles King, John Cason and Budd Buster. The film was released on February 17, 1946, by Producers Releasing Corporation.
Gunsmoke Mesa is a 1944 American Western film directed by Harry L. Fraser and written by Elmer Clifton. The film stars Dave O'Brien, James Newill, Guy Wilkerson, Patti McCarty, Jack Ingram and Kermit Maynard. The film was released on September 1, 1944, by Producers Releasing Corporation.
Enemy of the Law is a 1945 American Western film written and directed by Harry L. Fraser. The film stars Tex Ritter, Dave O'Brien, Guy Wilkerson, Kay Hughes, Jack Ingram and Charles King. The film was released on May 7, 1945, by Producers Releasing Corporation.
Outlaw Roundup is a 1944 American Western film directed by Harry L. Fraser and written by Elmer Clifton. The film stars Dave O'Brien, James Newill, Guy Wilkerson, Helen Chapman, Jack Ingram and I. Stanford Jolley. The film was released on February 10, 1944, by Producers Releasing Corporation.
Lure of the Wasteland is a 1939 American Western film directed by Harry L. Fraser and written by Robert Emmett Tansey. The film stars Grant Withers, LeRoy Mason, Ruth Findlay, Snub Pollard, Tom London, Henry Roquemore and Karl Hackett. The film was released on March 18, 1939, by Monogram Pictures.
Flaming Lead is a 1939 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Joseph O'Donnell. The film stars Ken Maynard, Eleanor Stewart, Dave O'Brien, Walter Long, Tom London and Reed Howes. The film was released on November 1, 1939, by Colony Pictures.
Galloping Dynamite is a 1936 American Western film directed by Harry L. Fraser and written by Sherman L. Lowe, Charles R. Condon, Stanley Roberts and Jesse Duffy. The film stars Kermit Maynard, Ariane Allen, John Merton, David Sharpe, Stanley Blystone, John Ward and Earl Dwire. The film was released on July 12, 1937, by Ambassador Pictures.
Claire Rochelle (1908–1981) was an American film actress. She played the female lead in a number of westerns.
