The Durango Kid | |
---|---|
![]() Newspaper advertisement | |
Directed by | Lambert Hillyer |
Screenplay by | Paul Franklin |
Produced by | Jack Fier |
Starring | Charles Starrett Luana Walters Kenneth MacDonald |
Cinematography | John Stumar |
Edited by | Richard Fantl |
Music by | Bob Nolan Tim Spencer |
Distributed by | Columbia Pictures Corporation |
Release date |
|
Running time | 61 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
The Durango Kid is a 1940 American Western directed by Lambert Hillyer, starring Charles Starrett, Luana Walters and Kenneth McDonald. [1] This is the first of 65 [2] Durango Kid movies Starrett made at Columbia Pictures. [3]
Bill Lowry (Charles Starrett) returns home to his family ranch, to find that ruthless businessman Mace Ballard (Kenneth MacDonald) is trying to force the townspeople into selling their land. Opposing Ballard is Lowry's father, who leaves for the marshal's office to press charges. On his way there, an armed sniper -- Ballard -- kills him. This prompts Bill to masquerade as The Durango Kid, fabled vigilante who fights for justice. While Durango harasses Ballard and terrorizes Ballard's gunmen, Bill becomes the marshal's special deputy, investigating Ballard's activities legally. Ballard is charged with murder but escapes, firing at the law. He is killed in the ensuing gunplay.
The Durango Kid was just another of Columbia's B-western features in its popular Charles Starrett series, with no special distinction except for its standard hero-vs.-villain plotline. In 1945 the studio produced a sequel, The Return of the Durango Kid , which caught on with moviegoers and became a series. Starrett went on to portray The Durango Kid full-time until his retirement in 1952. [4]
The Sons of the Pioneers are one of the United States' earliest Western singing groups. Known for their vocal performances, their musicianship, and their songwriting, they produced innovative recordings that have inspired many Western music performers and remained popular through the years. Since 1933, through many changes in membership, the Sons of the Pioneers have remained one of the longest-surviving country music vocal groups.
Charles John Holt, Jr. was an American motion picture actor who was prominent in both silent and sound movies, particularly Westerns.
Charles Robert Starrett was an American actor, best known for his starring role in the Durango Kid westerns. Starrett still holds the record for starring in the longest series of theatrical features: 131 westerns, all produced by Columbia Pictures.
Robert Ellsworth Patrick Aloysius Brady was an American actor and musician best known as the "comical sidekick" of the popular cowboy film and television star Roy Rogers on his eponymous radio and television series.
Jacques Joseph O'Mahoney, known professionally as Jock Mahoney, was an American actor and stuntman. He starred in two Action/Adventure television series, The Range Rider and Yancy Derringer. He played Tarzan in two feature films and was associated in various capacities with several other Tarzan productions. He was credited variously as Jacques O'Mahoney,Jock O'Mahoney, Jack Mahoney, and finally Jock Mahoney.
Luana Walters was an American motion picture actress from Los Angeles, California.
Kenneth MacDonald was an American film actor. Born in Portland, Indiana, MacDonald made more than 220 film and television appearances between 1931 and 1970. His name is sometimes seen as Kenneth McDonald; his later roles sometimes credited him as Kenneth R. MacDonald.
Spoilers of the Range is a 1939 American Western film directed by Charles C. Coleman and starring Charles Starrett.
Outpost of the Mounties is a 1939 American Western film directed by Charles C. Coleman and starring Charles Starrett.
Junction City is a 1952 American Western film directed by Ray Nazarro and starring Charles Starrett, Smiley Burnette and Jock Mahoney. It was produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures. The film's art direction was by Charles Clague.
The Kid from Broken Gun is a 1952 American western action film directed by Fred F. Sears, and starring Charles Starrett, Jock Mahoney, Angela Stevens, Tristram Coffin, and Myron Healey. The film was released by Columbia Pictures on August 16, 1952. This film became the 65th and final in the Durango Kid series.
The Blazing Trail, known in the United Kingdom as The Forged Will, is a 1949 American Western film directed by Ray Nazarro and starring Charles Starrett.
Blazing Across the Pecos is a 1948 American Western film directed by Ray Nazarro and written by Norman S. Hall. The film stars Charles Starrett, Patricia Barry, Paul Campbell, Charles C. Wilson, Thomas E. Jackson, Red Arnall and Smiley Burnette. The film was released on July 1, 1948, by Columbia Pictures.
Both Barrels Blazing is a 1945 American Western film directed by Derwin Abrahams and starring Charles Starrett.
The Pinto Kid is a 1941 American Western film directed by Lambert Hillyer and starring Charles Starrett, Louise Currie and Bob Nolan.
Bad Men of the Hills is a 1942 American Western film directed by William Berke and written by Luci Ward. The film stars Charles Starrett, Russell Hayden, Cliff Edwards, Luana Walters, Alan Bridge and Guy Usher. The film was released on August 13, 1942, by Columbia Pictures.
Bullets for Rustlers is a 1940 American Western film directed by Sam Nelson and written by John Rathmell. The film stars Charles Starrett, Lorna Gray, Bob Nolan, Dick Curtis, Kenneth MacDonald and Jack Rockwell. The film was released on March 5, 1940, by Columbia Pictures.
Frontier Gunlaw is a 1946 American Western film directed by Derwin Abrahams and written by Bennett Cohen. The film stars Charles Starrett, Tex Harding, Dub Taylor, Jean Stevens, Weldon Heyburn and Jack Rockwell. The film was released on January 31, 1946, by Columbia Pictures.
Texas Stagecoach is a 1940 American Western film directed by Joseph H. Lewis and written by Fred Myton. The film stars Charles Starrett, Iris Meredith, Bob Nolan, Dick Curtis, Kenneth MacDonald and Pat Brady. The film was released on May 23, 1940, by Columbia Pictures.
Two-Fisted Rangers is a 1939 American Western film directed by Joseph H. Lewis and written by Fred Myton. The film stars Charles Starrett, Iris Meredith, Bob Nolan, Kenneth MacDonald, Dick Curtis and Wally Wales. The film was released on December 13, 1939, by Columbia Pictures.