The Renegade Ranger *** (1938, George O’Brien, Rita Hayworth, Tim Holt) – Classic Movie Review 11,551

Director David Howard’s 1938 RKO Radio Pictures black and white Western film The Renegade Ranger stars George O’Brien, Rita Hayworth and Tim Holt.

Lovely Rita Hayworth stars as the beautiful Judith Alvarez, who is accused of murdering a shady tax collector, but is helped by Texas Ranger Captain Jack Steele (George O’Brien) and young renegade Larry Corwin (Tim Holt), who uncover the real villains.

Hayworth alone is worth the price of admission, but O’Brien and Holt are good value, and as a bonus Oliver Drake and Bennett Cohen’s screenplay is unusually lively.

Also in the cast are Ray Whitley, Robert Kortman [Bob Kortman], William Royle, Neal Hart, Charles Stevens, Cecilia Callejo, Monte Montague, Tom London and Jim Mason.

It is Tim Holt’s first film for RKO, before becoming one of their biggest cowboy stars.

It runs only 59 minutes (copyright length) (Turner library print).

The  cast are George O’Brien as Captain Jack Steele, Rita Hayworth as Judith Alvarez, Tim Holt as Larry Corwin, Ray Whitley as Happy, Lucio Villegas as Don Juan Campielo, William Royle as Ben Sanderson, Cecilia Callejo as Toñia Campielo, Neal Hart as Sheriff Joe Rawlings, Monte Montague as Henchman Monte, Bob Kortman as Henchman Idaho, Charles Stevens as Manuel, Jim Mason as Hank, and Tom London as Henchman Red.

RKO borrowed Rita Hayworth from Columbia Pictures, so she must have wondered where he career was headed.

Scenes were shot in Chatsworth, California.

It was released on September 16, 1938.

Songs on the soundtrack are ‘Señorita’ (music and lyrics by Albert Hay Malotte), Cecilia Callejo – ‘Cielito Lindo’ (Traditional Mexican Ballad) and Ray Whitley, Ken Card and The Phelps Brothers – ‘Move Slow, Little Dogie’ (music and lyrics by Willie Phelps).

Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,551

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