4/5 "Range Busters Series ... The Kid's Last Ride (1941) ... Monogram"
  by J. Lovins (Missouri-USA)
Monogram Pictures presents "THE KID'S LAST RIDE" (10 February 1941) (55 mins/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) -- With the success of Republic's Three Mesquiteers, several forces came together around 1940 to develop a new 'trigger trio' for the screen --- The star was Ray 'Crash' Corrigan, a producer named George W. Weeks and Monogram Pictures --- With a character of his own name. Ray starred in 20 of the 24 films in this series between 1940 and 1943 --- The Range Busters was clearly a lower budget copy of the Mesquiteers --- Big, muscular Ray 'Crash' Corrigan was the lead, the second lead was John 'Dusty' King, a big band singer (Ben Bernie Orchestra) with a reasonably good baritone, who would vocalize a tune or two in each film --- And comic relief was in the hands of ventriloquist Max 'Alibi' Terhune (and his wise-cracking dummy Elmer --- Monogram would distribute the Range Busters but not be directly involved in the productions --- The deal gave Corrigan a substantial share of the film profits (in an interview years later, Ray said he received 50%).

Under the production staff of:
Roy S. Luby - Director
George W. Weeks - Producer
Earle Snell - Screenwriter
Robert C. Cline - Cinematographer
Jean George - Songwriter
Roy Ingraham - Songwriter
Harry Tobias - Songwriter
Roy Claire - Editor

The story line and plot, Our heroes Ray "Crash" Corrigan (Himself), Dusty (John King) and Alibi (Max Terhune) members of the Range Busters as the scene opens when Harmon (Al Bridge) forces Jimmy (Edwin Brian) to reveal the location of some hidden money --- When Harmon's men go after the money, the Range Busters break up the attempted robbery. For his next move, Harmon lays a trap for Crash --- Not much money spent on this oater, but it does have the thrill of adventure within each scene --- Some veteran character actors Glenn Strange, Al Bridge and Al Haskell, give the Range Busters a run for their money.

the cast includes:
Ray Corrigan ... Crash Corrigan (as Ray 'Crash' Corrigan)
John 'Dusty' King ... Dusty King
Max Terhune ... Alibi Terhune (as Max 'Alibi' Terhune)
Elmer ... Elmer, Alibi's Dummy
Luana Walters ... Sally Rowell
Edwin Brian ... Jimmy Rowell
Al Bridge ... Bob Harmon, aka Jim Breeden
Glenn Strange ... Bart Gill, aka Ike Breeden (as Glen Strange)
Frank Ellis ... Henchman Wash
John Elliott ... Disher
George Havens ... School boy
Jack Baxley ... Jack
Roy Bucko ... Gambler
Jack Evans ... Gambler
Al Haskell ... Dealer Blackie

BIOS:
1. Ray 'Crash' Corrigan (aka: Raymond Benard)
Date of Birth: 14 February 1902 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Date of Death: 10 August 1976 - Brookings Harbor, Oregon

2. John 'Dusty' King (aka: Miller McLeod Everson)
Date of Birth: 11 July 1909 - Cincinnati, Ohio
Date of Death: 11 November 1987 - San Diego, California

3. Max Terhune
Date of Birth: 12 February 1891 - Anderson, Indiana
Date of Death: 5 June 1973 - Los Angeles, California

If you crave action, drama and plenty of adventure check out other western double features --- Ask Amazon.Com to carry the volumes as they are not available on Amazon as of yet --- you can order and pick up your copy now from VCI Entertainment

RANGE BUSTERS WESTERN DOUBLE FEATURE FROM VCI ENTERTAINMENT
VOL 1 -- WRANGLER'S ROOST & SADDLE MOUNTAIN ROUNDUP - (VCI #7243)
VOL.2 -- FUGITIVE VALLEY & THE KID'S LAST RIDE - (VCI #7349)

Hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guideslines for character identification), Chuck Anderson (Webmaster: The Old Corral/B-Westerns.Com), Boyd Magers (Western Clippings), Bobby J. Copeland (author of "Trail Talk"), Rhonda Lemons (Empire Publishing Inc) and Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") as they have rekindled my interest once again for B-Westerns and Serials --- If you're into the memories of B-Westerns with high drama, this is the one you've been anxiously waiting for --- please stand up and take a bow --- all my heroes have been cowboys!

Total Time: 55 min on VHS/DVD ~ Monogram Pictures ~ (5/07/2007)