Santa Fe Stampede ** (1938, John Wayne, Ray Corrigan, Max Terhune, June Martel) – Classic Movie Review 11,664

‘A stampede of renegades in a round-up of bank raiders and… Romance!’

Director George Sherman’s popular 1938 American Republic Pictures’ Three Mesquiteers Western film Santa Fe Stampede stars John Wayne as Stony Brooke, Ray Corrigan as Tucson Smith, Max Terhune as Lullaby Joslin, and June Martel as Nancy Carson.

Town boss Mayor Gil Byron (LeRoy Mason) wants the gold The Mesquiteers’ partner Dave Carson (William Farnum) has found and has him killed and his tame Sheriff (Dick Rush) arrest Stony Brooke (John Wayne) for the murder, inciting the townsfolk to lynch him.

It runs 55 minutes. It was released on November 18, 1938.

The cast are John Wayne as Stony Brooke, Ray Corrigan as Tucson Smith, Max Terhune as Lullaby Joslin, June Martel as Nancy Carson, William Farnum as Dave Carson, LeRoy Mason as Mayor Gil Byron, Martin Spellman as Billy Carson, Genee Hall as Julie Jane Carson, Walter Wills as Lawyer Harris, Ferris Taylor as Judge Henry J Hixon, Tom London as Marshal Jim Wood, Dick Rush as Sheriff Tom, James Cassidy as Jed Newton and Richard Alexander as henchman Joe Moffit.

Wayne played the lead in eight of the 51 films in the Republic Pictures Three Mesquiteers series as Stony Brooke: Pals of the Saddle, Overland Stage Raiders, Santa Fe Stampede, Red River Range, The Night Riders, Three Texas Steers, Wyoming Outlaw, and New Frontier. Stony Brooke was played by Bob Livingston in 29 films and Tom Tyler in 13 films.

The Three Mesquiteers series was released between 1936 and 1943. The name mixes mesquite, a plant common in the Western states, with The Three Musketeers.

Previously, Powdersmoke Range (1935, RKO Pictures) had starred Harry Carey as Tucson Smith, Hoot Gibson as Stony Brooke, and Guinn ‘Big Boy’ Williams as Lullaby Joslin. Then Republic Pictures started up with The Three Mesquiteers (1936) with Bob Livingston.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,664

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