The Lawless Nineties ** (1936, John Wayne, Ann Rutherford, Harry Woods, George ‘Gabby’ Hayes, Al Bridge, Fred Toones, Etta McDaniel, Lane Chandler) – Classic Movie Review 7133

Director Joseph Kane’s modest and familiar but intriguing and moderately enjoyable 1936 pre-superstardom John Wayne Republic studios short black and white B-Western casts The Duke as Federal Agent John Tipton, who comes undercover to Wyoming in the 1890s with Federal Agent Bridger (Lane Chandler) to preside over the voting over being part of the Union.

But bad guy Charles Plummer (Harry Woods) is hell bent on stopping this happening, and it is up to Tipton to stop him and his murderous outlaw thugs.

It also stars the 19-year-old Ann Rutherford as Janet Carter, George ‘Gabby’ Hayes as Major Carter, Al Bridge as Steele, Fred Toones (billed as Snowflake) as Moses, Etta McDaniel (the sister of Hattie McDaniel) as Mandy Lou Schaefer, and Jack Rockwell as Smith.

Also in the cast are Cliff Lyons (Henchman), Al Taylor (Henchman), Charles King (Henchman), George Chesebro (Henchman), Tracy Layne, Chuck Baldra, Sam Flint, Tom London, Philo McCullough, Monte Blue, Bob Burns, Horace B Carpenter, Steve Clark, Jim Corey, Curley Dresden, Henry Hall, James Harrison, Edward Hearn, Lloyd Ingraham, Jack Kirk, Lew Meehan, George Morrell, Tex Palmer, Pascale Perry, Rose Plummer and James Sheridan.

The Lawless Nineties is directed by Joseph Kane, runs 55 minutes, is produced by Republic Pictures, is released by Republic Pictures, is written by Joseph F Poland, based on a story by Joseph F Poland and Scott Pembroke, is shot in black and white by William Nobles, is produced by Paul Malvern and scored by Arthur Kay and Heinz Roemheld. It premiered on 15 February 1936.

Though set in Wyoming, it is shot at the Trem Carr Ranch, Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall, California.

Republic had to change its original title of G-Men of the Nineties to avoid litigation when Warner Bros threatened to sue any studio using ‘G’ Men, the title of its 1935 film ‘G’ Men starring James Cagney.

Ann Rutherford (1917–2012).

Ann Rutherford died on 11 June 2012, aged 94.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7133

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