Touches You

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Don't Believe the Hype

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

A cynic might say this is King of the Royal Mounted in the Texas oil fields, but it has its own atmosphere. Sammy Baugh does not attempt to overstep either his role or his acting ability and comes across as well as any of Republic's western stars. He is surrounded by pros, especially the bad guys, and has the ever popular Duncan Renaldo as a right hand man. There is an ample mixture of horses, roadsters, l930s air planes, speedboats, even a Zeppelin and a heroine who is her own man, a professional working girl, a trait for which Republic's B action movies are only now receiving credit. As with many other Republic westerns and serials, the soundtrack music rang in my head all these years and was just as I remembered it.The trick is to tell the Fords, GM and Chryslers apart.

Shortly after the conclusion of the 1940 NFL season, Republic executive Bill Saal (Texas Christian University alum)called Washington Redskins quarterback Sammy Baugh (Texas Christian University alum)at his ranch near Rotan, Texas about the prospects of Baugh starring in a Republic serial; A telephone conversation that led to one of the best overall serials Republic Pictures Corporation produced in their valley of the cliffhangers.Republic assigned five writers to this serial and each writer was given a specific chapter to work on: Norman S. Hall on Chapter 1 (The Fifth Column Strikes) and Chapter 6 (Double Danger); Joseph Poland (and billed as such)on Chapter 2 (Dead End), Chapter 7 (Death Takes the Witness) and Chapter 11 (Trail of Death); William Lively on Chapter 3 (Man Hunt)and Chapter 8 (Counterfeit Trail); Ronald Davidson on Chapter 4 (Trapped), Chapter 9 (Ambush)and Chapter 12 (Code of the Rangers), and Joseph O'Donnell was given Chapter 5 (Test Flight) and Chapter 10 (Sky Raiders.) Based on the order of chapter numbers (1-2-3-4-5) one might assume (if one was given to making assumptions and there are ones who do) that such was the writer's order on the screen credits...but one would assume (as assumers often do) incorrectly. Republic, as they most often did, credited the writers in (nearly) alpha order on the screen credits ( Davidson, Hall, Lively, Poland and O'Donnell, and gave each an Original Screen Play (not a typo and not written as one word--- Screenplay) credit.The October, 1941 release of this serial pre-dated The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and FDR's Declaration of War against the Axis powers by more than two months (and most of the writing assignments carry April, 1941 dates), and is just one of the many "watch-out"/preparation films and serials Hollywood produced circa 1938-December 7, 1941. Truly, taken in context of the time and era and limitations of serial budgets (and judged against serials and not "Citizen Kane",) "King of the Texas Rangers" ranks high as a great example of serial-making at its best.

This is one of the greatest of Hollywood's serials and made by the Tiffany of serial studios: the great Republic Studio. Made in l941, this is a classic serial to watch if you've never seen one. 'Slingin' Sammy Baugh, a real-life football hero back in the early 40s is the hero. Fascinating B-actress, Pauline Moore, is his plucky companion. Together they tear through this movie, dodging exploding oil wells, car wrecks, blazing fires, floods. Wonderful production values, super music and editing. The kiddies should have the thrill of their lives with this knockout entertainment

Even though the Dick Tracy serials, Capt. Marvel, both Batmans, and Superman were very enjoyable, you cannot beat this movie for continuous unique action scenes and storylines that were made up just for this serial and not just using up "stock shots" made for other serials. If I were to pick one serial to be the very best one I would have to pick this one.