Tim Holt was nineteen when he appeared with George O'Brien as a sidekick in this B picture. Holt, the son of star Jack Holt, was under contract to producer Walter Wanger. When Wanger loaned him to RKO for this assignment, it began a long-running association for young Holt and the studio.
RKO bought Holt's contract from Wanger, and Holt went on to headline many B westerns until 1952. But at this point he is paying his dues under O'Brien. Mr. O'Brien would remain the studio's top western hero until 1940. When a disagreement over money caused O'Brien to hit the trail, Holt took over full time.
In THE RENEGADE RANGER O'Brien is a Texas Ranger sent to arrest a former ranch owner (Rita Hayworth, borrowed from Columbia). Miss Hayworth is beautiful, but she is wanted for murder.
O'Brien quickly realizes she's innocent and that a crook (William Royle) is the one he needs to bring to justice. Before O'Brien learns Hayworth's not guilty, he poses as a member of her gang. His cover is blown by the arrival of an ex-ranger (Holt) who reveals O'Brien's true identity. This puts them both in considerable danger, undermining the undercover operation.
While all of this gets sorted out, the film manages to throw in a few musical numbers. Country and western singer Ray Whitley performs a tune called 'Move Slow Little Dogie' with Ken Card and the Phelps Brothers. Also, costar Cecilia Callejo is seen in a rendition of the traditional Mexican ballad 'Cielito Lindo.'
Back to the story. As Hayworth's character straddles the line between right and wrong, she falls in love with O'Brien. Meanwhile Holt stirs up trouble as a callow youth. (Orson Welles would cast the actor a short time later to play a pampered rich kid in THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS.)
The film is fairly entertaining, as far as these productions go. It's a chance to see Hayworth and Holt learning their craft before becoming stars. Also it's a chance to glimpse some outdoor scenes filmed in Chatsworth before the San Fernando Valley's vast ranches made way for modern housing developments.
RKO bought Holt's contract from Wanger, and Holt went on to headline many B westerns until 1952. But at this point he is paying his dues under O'Brien. Mr. O'Brien would remain the studio's top western hero until 1940. When a disagreement over money caused O'Brien to hit the trail, Holt took over full time.
In THE RENEGADE RANGER O'Brien is a Texas Ranger sent to arrest a former ranch owner (Rita Hayworth, borrowed from Columbia). Miss Hayworth is beautiful, but she is wanted for murder.
O'Brien quickly realizes she's innocent and that a crook (William Royle) is the one he needs to bring to justice. Before O'Brien learns Hayworth's not guilty, he poses as a member of her gang. His cover is blown by the arrival of an ex-ranger (Holt) who reveals O'Brien's true identity. This puts them both in considerable danger, undermining the undercover operation.
While all of this gets sorted out, the film manages to throw in a few musical numbers. Country and western singer Ray Whitley performs a tune called 'Move Slow Little Dogie' with Ken Card and the Phelps Brothers. Also, costar Cecilia Callejo is seen in a rendition of the traditional Mexican ballad 'Cielito Lindo.'
Back to the story. As Hayworth's character straddles the line between right and wrong, she falls in love with O'Brien. Meanwhile Holt stirs up trouble as a callow youth. (Orson Welles would cast the actor a short time later to play a pampered rich kid in THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS.)
The film is fairly entertaining, as far as these productions go. It's a chance to see Hayworth and Holt learning their craft before becoming stars. Also it's a chance to glimpse some outdoor scenes filmed in Chatsworth before the San Fernando Valley's vast ranches made way for modern housing developments.