Lawless Range *** (1935, John Wayne, Sheila Bromley, Frank McGlynn Jr) – Classic Movie Review 7129

John Wayne returns to playing a singing cowboy again in Lawless Range after his one shot as Singin’ Sandy in Riders of Destiny (1933) and he appears to sing in this one, though in fact of course again he does not, as it is not actually him on the soundtrack. Strangely, his singing voice is dubbed by deep-voiced Glenn Strange, who later found lasting film fame as Frankenstein’s Monster in three Universal films during the 1940s: House of Frankenstein (1944), House of Dracula (1945) and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948). Glenn Strange also acts in the film as Burns’s henchman.

Director Robert N Bradbury’s intriguing 1935 pre-A-list stardom John Wayne Republic Pictures B-movie Western Lawless Range finds The Duke playing John Middleton, who looks into the regular little problem of a gang of cattle rustlers, run by wicked Frank Carter (Frank McGlynn Jr).

The Lawless Range tells a familiar tale, based on a story by Lindsley Parsons, who also writes the screenplay, but, still, the film is short, pacy and entertaining. There are also Singing Cowhands on hand, played by The Wranglers (uncredited).

Unsurprisingly, Wayne soon abandoned the singing cowboy format, ashamed that he could not sing as expected during publicity appearances.

Lawless Range (1935) lobby card.

Also in the cast are Sheila Bromley (billed as Sheila Mannors), Jack Curtis, Wally Howe, Julia Griffin, Yakima Canutt as Joe Burns, Earl Dwire, Sam Flint, Henry Hall, Bob Kortman, Pascale Perry, James Sheridan, Chuck Baldra, Charles Brinley, Fred Burns, Frank Ellis, Herman Hack, Ray Henderson, John Ince, Jack Kirk, George Ovey, Tex Palmer, Fred Parker, Charles Sargent, Francis Walker and Slim Whitaker.

It started off as one of Monogram’s Lone Star Westerns, but it released by Republic Pictures, which took over Monogram in 1935.

The Lawless Range is directed by Robert N Bradbury, runs 53 minutes, is made by Paul Malvern Productions, is released by Republic Pictures, is written by Lindsley Parsons, is shot in black and white by Archie J Stout, is produced by Paul Malvern, and is scored by Sam Perry, with stunts by Yakima Canutt, Tommy Coats, Jack Hendricks and Francis Walker.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7129

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com