The Fatal Hour

The Fatal Hour

Monogram

January 15, 1940

Crime Drama

DVD
D+

Kind of flat, even the banter.  William Nigh directed.

Up in the Air (1940)

Up in the Air (1940)

Monogram Pictures

September 9, 1940

Comedy, Musical

DVD
C-

I guess this turns into a mystery later.  It looks like (from Wikipedia) that the character with the later ironic name Rita Wilson is killed later.  I might've stayed with this movie (especially since it's only an hour long), since the plot and music weren't bad, but the characters weren't too appealing and of course the Black character was heavily stereotyped.  Howard Bretherton directed.

West of the Divide

West of the Divide

Monogram Pictures

February 15, 1934

Western

DVD
D+

Again with the clumsy exposition.  Bradbury again wrote and directed.

Randy Rides Alone

Randy Rides Alone

Monogram Pictures

June 5, 1934

Western

DVD
C-

This plays almost like a silent, with minimal dialogue.  Harry L. Fraser directed.

Texas Terror

Texas Terror

Monogram Pictures

February 1, 1935

Western
DVD
D+

Writer-director Bradbury is presumably the one to blame for the hilariously clumsy exposition.

Sagebrush Trail

Sagebrush Trail

Monogram Pictures

December 15, 1933

Western
DVD
C-

This time, Wayne is a fugitive wrongly accused of murder, taking the alias "Smith."  Armand Schaefer directed.

Riders of Destiny

Riders of Destiny

Monogram Pictures

October 10, 1933

Western

DVD
C-

The platinum blonde gets more to do than most of the women in these movies.  Bradbury wrote and directed again.

Rainbow Valley

Rainbow Valley

Monogram Pictures

March 15, 1935

Western

DVD
C-

Gabby Hayes has an automobile.  Bradbury directed but didn't write.

Paradise Canyon

Paradise Canyon

Monogram Pictures

July 20, 1935

Western
DVD
C

I sort of like this one, but mostly because it seems to be set in the twentieth-century, with a medicine show troupe in a motorized van.  Carl Pierson directed.

'Neath the Arizona Skies

'Neath the Arizona Skies

Monogram Pictures

December 5, 1934

Western

DVD
C-

This time the Duke is looking after a feisty, "half-breed" little heiress.  Harry L. Fraser directed.

The Trail Beyond

The Trail Beyond

Monogram Pictures

October 22, 1934

Western
DVD
D+

Two college chums meet on the train West.  Again, Bradbury directed but didn't write.

Star Packer

Star Packer

Monogram Pictures

July 30, 1934

Western
DVD
D+

To be honest, I kept thinking of the original title of the Rolling Stones song "Star Star."  Bradbury again wrote and directed.

The Man from Utah

The Man from Utah

Monogram Pictures

May 15, 1934

Western
DVD
D+

My favorite part was the scene on the river.  This time Bradbury directed but didn't write.

The Lucky Texan

The Lucky Texan

Monogram Pictures

January 22, 1934

Western

DVD
C-

The corrupt assayer made this more interesting than others of its ilk.  Bradbury again wrote and directed.

The Lawless Frontier

The Lawless Frontier

Monogram Pictures

November 22, 1934

Western

DVD
D

Somewhat racist.  Bradbury wrote and directed again.

The Desert Trail

The Desert Trail

Monogram Pictures

April 22, 1935

Western

DVD
D

The sound recording is so bad on this, I wished it were a silent so I could read the title cards and follow what was going on.  Lewis D. Collins directed, as Cullen Lewis.

The Dawn Rider (1935)

The Dawn Rider (1935)

Monogram Pictures

June 20, 1935

Western
DVD
D+

Wayne still looking very young (at 28), in another low-budget foot-in-the-door movie.  Bradbury again directed but this time had co-writers.

Blue Steel (1934)

Blue Steel (1934)

Monogram Pictures

May 10, 1934

Western

DVD
D+

A baby-faced Wayne, and crooks hiding in a hotel as newlyweds check in.  Robert N. Bradbury wrote and directed.

Dillinger (1945)

Dillinger (1945)
Monogram
April 6, 1945
Crime Drama
DVD
C-

Short (70 minutes, of which I watched 15) and therefore fast-moving but not exactly absorbing tale of the gangster.  Max Nosseck directed.