Across the Plains

June. 01,1939      
Rating:
5.8
Trailer Synopsis Cast

Two young brothers are separated when their wagon train is attacked and their parents killed. One brother Cherokee is raised by Indians and the other, the Kansas Kid, by the outlaw gang leader Buff. Twenty years later they unknowingly meet again when the Kid goes after wagons being guided by Cherokee.

Jack Randall as  Cherokee
Joyce Bryant as  Mary Masters
Hal Price as  Buckskin
Dennis Moore as  Jimmy Winters, aka The Kansas Kid
Glenn Strange as  Jeff Masters
Bud Osborne as  Henchman Lex
Monte Rawlins as  Henchman Rip
Iron Eyes Cody as  Brave

Reviews

Cubussoli
1939/06/01

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

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Greenes
1939/06/02

Please don't spend money on this.

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GazerRise
1939/06/03

Fantastic!

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Rexanne
1939/06/04

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

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Michael Morrison
1939/06/05

Jack Randall probably could have become a bigger star, judging by his performance here, if he had had more experience and more exposure.His director in "Across the Plains" was one of the all-time greats, Spencer Gordon Bennett, who did some wonderful work as far back as the silent days.I remember watching a serial at the lamented Silent Movie Theatre on Fairfax in Los Angeles and just marveling at the attention to detail Bennett paid. I sat in absolute awe then and at his later pictures.Bennett, Randall, and the cast had a good story, one that got used in many variations and by many production companies, but the low budget got in the way.For example, the fight scenes were really lame. No Yakima Canutt or David Sharpe was present to get that wild action that highlighted, for example, John Wayne and Republic pictures battles.But there were superior players to make up for those lacks. Frank Yaconelli was one of the best "Mexicans" Hollywood ever had, and Joyce Bryant was lovely, although she didn't get to do much besides look good.Dennis Moore has always impressed me, partly because of his great voice, but he's usually more than adequate in even the small roles he had. He too is someone I think should have become a star.Glenn Strange is always good to see, and he had a different role here, a somewhat understated good guy. Remember Glenn Strange was so often so evil, why, once he even shot Charlie King in the back! Now that's low.Bud Osborne got a meaty part, and, as usual, he handled it beautifully. He was always dependable and frequently a better actor than others in whatever cast he was in."Across the Plains" is available on Westerns on the Web, one of the greatest innovations since Algore invented the Internet. I recommend it, even though it's not the greatest western I've seen, not even seen this week. But it was my first chance to see Jack Randall, and now I'm going to look for more of his films.

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Johnboy1221
1939/06/06

Warning.....spoilers ahead.....I really liked this movie, mostly because I'm a big, big fan of Dennis Moore (Denny Meadows). He's great here, as the Kansas Kid. This is a step above the usual "B" westerns of the time in that it features a nice story (touching at times) about brothers reunited later in life. One had turned out bad, the other good. The story plays out well and believable, for the most part. A case in point is near the end when Buff shoots young Jimmy. He grabs his shoulder and falls. After the bad guys have been taken care of, Jack asks his brother where he's been hit and he moans "all over". Huh? Did I miss something? Last I saw, he didn't have a fatal wound. That said, this is a good film, with good acting, good direction, and exciting action. Well worth watching. I just wish I could get all of Denny's movies on DVD.john-boy

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tpea1
1939/06/07

This is by far one of the better films Randall made . The locations are better than usual being done in the Lone Pine area . The script is far above average for the continuity . The story actually flows although the subplot of Randall and Moore being brothers takes the center stage . But this is unusual for a Monogram programmer . I was impressed by story ,continuity ,scenery and even acting . Randall was more subdued and especially Yaconelli . He can be a real pain as noted in the Tom Keene series .Tansy was in charge of this film as well as 'The Song of Old Wyoming '. He wrote the script for this film and directed ' Song of Old Wyoming ' You can see without too much thought that this film was the genesis for " Song of Old Wyoming " and why. Buckskin ( Hal Price ) becomes Uncle Ezra ( Emmett Lynn ) . Both teach the kid how to carve a doll which reveals their true identity . The Kansas Kid ( Dennis Moore ) becomes The Cheyenne Kid ( Lash LaRue).Randall's interest in Joyce Bryant has a little play which the ending reveals he is satisfied that justice has been satisfied . Moore had no interest in her . If you want to see Randall at his best , this is the one for you

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GUENOT PHILIPPE
1939/06/08

I had this one since a while in my collection. Several years. And I discover it only now. Such a shame. It is directed by the young Spencer Gordon Bennet, who later will make dozens of serials for Republic and Columbia Pictures. This little western is very rare. It is shot in locations, somewhere in Arizona. This flick is fast paced, the actors pretty good, and the story enjoyable. Even also predictable.But we can't ask for everything...I won't resume the topic, it is already explained in the Tagline and Plot page, on IMDb. It would be interesting to watch many more of these early westerns. I know they are easily available, from the thirties and forties, but perhaps not all interesting. And it may be boring to watch one hundred of them in order to catch only one good...Isn't it?

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