User Reviews

Kermit Maynard rides Rocky to the rescue in this B Western that's a pretty formulaic affair, but you have to admit, there's a cool opening sequence in which Ranger Larry Graham (Maynard) does some trick riding that's not often seen. After that, there's some of the usual head scratching stuff that used to pass as matinée entertainment back in the day. Beginning with Graham's prison breakout with Ace Beldon (Maston Williams) - just how did they accomplish that?

My favorite though was when Graham's undercover partner Tim Raymond (Jack Ingram) upended five seated henchmen at a card table, completely knocking all of them out of their chairs! The move looked really cool, but could never be duplicated in real life. I guess that's why I love this stuff.

And how many countless times have you seen a stage driver get shot from behind only to clutch at the front of his shoulder? It cracks me up every time I see it, which meant twice today, because it also happened in Gene Autry's flick "Riders in the Sky". Had to have something to do on a snow day.

Well it's all a lot of fun and not to be taken too seriously. I can't imagine these flicks were ever meant to be passed as much more than a showcase for it's star, in this case Maynard, former stunt man and often times stand-in for his brother Ken, somewhat better known as a lead cowboy. Both came out of the silent era, and fans of the genre looking for a Kermit Maynard vehicle would be well served by this one.

Even though Kermit Maynard never achieved the fame of his older brother Ken, his independent Westerns were always of a consistently high quality. Divided up between wild west actioners and Canadian Mountie adventures they all had a certain polish, including camera tricks and some interesting leading ladies who used them as a stepping stone (Ann Sheridan etc). Kermit was their best asset, a very breezy and athletic westerner who always kept himself in tip top condition, he was more a natural actor than his brother even though he didn't approach his popularity.

After a dexterous display of horse riding, Texas Ranger Larry Graham (Maynard) has to get down to the business of finding out where "Ace" Beldon has hidden a bag of stolen loot before being sent to prison. He goes undercover to the State prison where as "Ace's" cell mate he attempts to win his confidence. He organises a jail break and takes Ace with him where they escape to Ace's hideout and of course Ace's gang don't take too kindly to Larry. He makes it very easy for them to discover his identity by trying to sneak off to the local Texas Ranger's headquarters!!! There is plenty of riding action especially at the end when Anita (Harlene Wood), eager to become the first female T.R., rides off with the money acting as a decoy so Larry can follow from behind and corner the crooks.

Harlene (or Harley) Wood may have made her mark as a song writer but, for me, she will always be "Burma" the young girl lured into the world of drugs to become dope peddler "Blondie" in the campy, crazy "Marihuana" (1935).

The plot of this B Western starring Ken Maynard could have been used in practically every film genre. Maynard goes undercover and ends up going to prison to help pal Maston Williams escape so he can prove his innocence. The local lawman goes along with the scheme, hoping this will lead them to stolen bonds that Williams allegedly took. Anita Saunders as the daughter of the police captain could have been a groundbreaking character but she quickly turns into a numskull, going from an independent minded early feminist fighting for women to become involved in protecting the law to barely able to hold a gun, one she's sure isn't, but really is. But with Maynard's help, she turns around, so the message becomes that a woman in the old west could do just as good as a man as long as a man was willing to help her. Still this is a unique film in many ways, having the typical horse chases but different conflicts that you normally don't see in B Westerns.

"Whistling Bullets" was originally released back in 1937.

Anyway - As the story goes - A Texas Ranger looks to discover where a crook has hidden a cache of stolen money before being sent to prison. He decides to pursue the case by going undercover in prison as the crook's cellmate, hoping to gain the location of the hidden money.