The Vigilantes Ride (1943) DVD-R

Starring Russell Hayden, Dub Taylor, Bob Wills, The Texas Playboys, Shirley Patterson
Directed by William A. Berke

Print: black/white
Runtime: 56 min.
Genre: western
Print Quality: B

Utilizing a plot that Columbia had used twice before with Buck Jones and again with Charles
Starrett, this version shifts the state of the Rangers from Texas to Arizona, where Ranger
Rod Saunders (Stanley Brown) is killed by a band of outlaws and his brother Ranger Lucky
Saunders (Russell Hayden)swears to avenge his death. The outlaws, led secretly by town
businessman Anse Rankin (Tristram Coffin), have been terrorizing the town and the
citizens. Rankin accuses the Rangers of being unable to cope with the situation and
organizes a Vigilante Defense League, with himself as the head and with the intent of
forcing the ranchers to pay tribute for protection against his own gang. Lucky, working with
Captain Randall (Jack Rockwell), resigns in disgrace from the Rangers and pretends to go
over to the side of the outlaws.