Universal 1935 / 12 Chapters
Directed by Louis Friedlander
Starring John Mack Brown as Jack Wood
Joyce Compton as Mary Lee
Walter Miller as Deacon
Raymond Hatton as Laramie
Harry Woods as Rocky
Also featuring: Charles French, Fredric McKaye, William Desmond, Bud Osborne, Edmund Cobb, J. P. McGowan, Monte Montague, Lafe McKee, Wally Wales, Chief Thunder Cloud, Slim Whitaker, Art Mix, Jim Corey, Bill Patton, Cliff Lyons, Tex Cooper, Ben Corbett, Hank Bell, Artie Ortego, Chief Thunderbird, Ann D'Arcy, Fritzi Burnette, Grace Cunard, Virginia Ainsworth, and Jim Thorpe as Chief Scarface
No sooner has the prospector yelled "GOLD!" than he's shot down in his tracks and the whole town of Nugget hears the thundering hoofbeats of the dreaded Rustlers of Red Dog, a mighty mounted band of thieves and robbers, who swoop down on the town without warning to plunder and murder. A group of three colorful compatriots, upright good guy and ex-sheriff Jack, his harmonica-playing old friend Laramie, and Deacon the tricky and smooth-talking gambler, use their respective skills in a difficult struggle to deceive and disarm the dangerous gang.
"I must first say that I was surprised just how much like an actual movie this one was in some ways. Johnny Mack Brown plays a reluctant hero who wants to hang up his guns but gets drawn into protecting a town from evil rustlers. He is assisted by Deacon, a gambler who is good with a shotgun, and Laramie, a Kentuckian-sounding scout-type. The three are all well-drawn characters and fleshed out nicely with some actual character development scenes thrown in. The heroine is also active and brave as well as cute, and fires a gun with good effect a few times (she's not Linda Stirling but for a 1934 Universal she's damn good). The villainous Rocky is also well-portrayed - there is actually a scene where he shows emotion at the death of one of his gang, something hardly ever shown in serials. He's a very good black hat and you see how personal the war between JMB and Rocky gets throughout the serial. Well-done." -- 39013
The DVD: Digitally transferred from an original print and negative source, noise reduced and restored. Presented in black and white. Includes theatrical trailer and cast bios.
Extra Special Feature: Commentary on Chapter 1 by "Whiskey Pete" Brangus, a surviving original cast member, who recalls his experiences as an extra on the set of the serial.
Released February 2005
List price $17.95
Special Sale Price $12.95