Along the Rio Grande (1941)

Absolutely brilliant

Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Directed by Edward Killy, a Best Assistant Director Oscar nominee in 1934, this Tim Holt B Western was based on a story by Stuart Anthony; the screenplay was written by Morton Grant and Arthur V. Jones. Joined by his usual sidekicks, singer Smokey (Ray Whitley) and tall tale telling Whopper (played this time by Emmett Lynn), Holt plays Jeff, a trustworthy ranch hand whose boss Pop Edwards (Harry Humphrey) is murdered by rustler Doc Randall (Robert Fiske). Pop's murder inspires the three wrangler friends to help the sheriff (Hal Taliaferro aka Wally Wales) to apprehend Doc and his gang. Monte Montague plays Doc's right hand man Kirby.Because of an improbable turn of events involving banker Joe Turner (Carl Stockdale), Jeff, Smokey, and Whopper are put in jail overnight as bank robbers by the sheriff. Fortunately for these three, one of Doc's henchman Pete (Slim Whitaker) is already in the cell. After making their introductions, Pete informs them that he's about to be sprung so Jeff asks if he and his pals can come along. Pete then takes them to Doc's Mexican hideout, a Catina run by Paula (Ruth Clifford), and vouches for them. But Doc is not so sure until Mary Loring (Betty Jane Rhodes), who'd been in the jail at the time Jeff et al appeared to be robbing Turner's bank, verifies Pete's claim. Mary, who'd come south of the border to sing, tells Paula that she doesn't want to work in a place that caters to outlaws; she then realizes that she no longer has a choice in the matter.Suddenly, every job Doc's gang tries to run turns into an ambush; the Sweetwater sheriff seems to know their every move. But Doc continues to avoid capture by not participating in the action while Jeff is able to keep himself and his friends barely above suspicion. Eventually, however, Doc lays a trap that dim-witted Whopper falls for such that Ray and Jeff are put at risk. With help from Mary, who has naturally fallen for Jeff, Ray is able to escape to warn the sheriff. Of course, the posse arrives just in time to assist Jeff, who'd escaped Doc's clutches and then singlehandedly held the gang at bay with no more than his fists and a six-shooter.In the end, even Whopper contributes by keeping the outlaws from escaping on horseback.

Young Tim Holt certainly kept busy in 1941. He appeared in no less than eight movies, including an uncredited role in a short, Know for Sure. Here has he has the starring role in a competent enough "B" western in which he seems content to allow the other players to steal most of his scenes, particularly garrulous Ray Whitley and even reluctant heroine, Betty Jane Rhodes. Actually, it's the villain – a doctor-turned-bad-guy and a real mean one – played by Robert Fiske who dominates the movie. The action scenes are lively enough, but nothing special, although locations are well utilized by director Edward Killy, who spent most of his career as an assistant director, both before and after his stint in the main job. This entry is available on an excellent Warner Archive DVD.

Taking a cue from the successful Three Mesquiteers series at Republic Pictures, RKO teamed their cowboy B picture star Tim Holt with two sidekicks, singing and guitar strumming Ray Whitely and in the cussed old timer role Emmett Lynn.The man the trio works for is kidnapped and held for ransom and the trio are forced into robbing a bank for the ransom money. They're too late with it and the man is killed by outlaw leader Robert Fiske.But a peculiar chain of events allow Holt, Lynn, and Whitley to infiltrate Fiske's gang. The three act like a fifth column to bring in the outlaw gang.Fiske is a particularly vicious villain who's not a fool by any means. Can't say as much for his outlaw gang, but I guess he just couldn't get good help.Emmett Lynn's character is named 'Whopper' for the tall tales he'll spin at the drop of a hat and at the wrong time. He's funny, but he does get on Holt's nerves a bit. But in the end he does pull off a really neat trick to capture the whole band.Along The Rio Grande is a nicely paced B western as Tim Holt westerns always were. Holt was one of the better B cowboy heroes and this film is typical of what RKO cast him in before his World War II service.

When TCM aired this in September, 2010, it was one of several Tim Holt films for the day.I can admire Tim Holt, and recognize his talent, but, to be honest, his westerns were often slow, even lame."Along the Rio Grande" was nothing special, except for an excellent cast, some good dialog, and pretty good directing, and two very good singers, although of different styles, Ray Whitely and Betty Jane Rhodes, who seems to have had a short film career.As is so often the case, the "humor" is not very funny, although Emmett Lynn did his best with the material.Outstanding, and with one of the best roles of his career, is Slim Whitaker. In fact, this is such a good part for him that to see him is reason enough to watch this movie, especially for western fans.