A horse rustling operation puts the blame on a beautiful white stallion which ranch hand to be Tom Tyler longs to tame to prove his theory and protect this magnetic horse from being destroyed. Tyler's attempts to "break" Phantom are the best scenes, and while the disliked the use of the word "break", I saw why it was necessary. The first shot of Phantom is glorious, a lone single shot of the stallion standing still on a mountain range looking almost angelic. Phantom certainly gives a much better performance than the bland actors playing the rustlers. Also rather dull is Alice Dahl as the daughter of the owner of the Bar X ranch where all the rustling has taken place. She's still a very pretty girl, and if her performance isn't memorable, she at least has a very charming smile. Tom Tyler is an interesting western hero whom I am glad to have discovered, adding more than just Autry, Rogers and Wayne to the list of Western's memorable leading men.
8 Reviews
Good Tom Tyler Oater
boblipton6 July 2021
Tom Tyler moseys over to Lafe McKee's ranch, whence horses have been disappearing. Everyone thinks it's a wild horse, but Tyler doesn't. He offers to take care of the situation in a couple of days and deliver the horse, saddle trained, to McKee's daughter, Alice Dahll.
It's got some good situations, and some good fight choreography. I wasn't expecting much, given that Bernard Ray was the director, but despite a rather leisurely pace of conversation, it moves at a decent clip; I attribute this to his using a lot of editing cuts in the dialogue sections. Tyler is pretty good here.
It's got some good situations, and some good fight choreography. I wasn't expecting much, given that Bernard Ray was the director, but despite a rather leisurely pace of conversation, it moves at a decent clip; I attribute this to his using a lot of editing cuts in the dialogue sections. Tyler is pretty good here.
Not bad but a but limp now and then.
planktonrules10 November 2012
"Coyote Trails" is a remake of "Phantom of the Desert". It also has a lot in common with a silent western, "King of the Wild Horses". So, the film might seem a bit familiar.
As far as the story goes, though familiar, it's rather enjoyable. A group of horse thieves are blaming the loss of horses on a wild stallion that is supposedly leading the other horses away. However, the horse is innocent and is slated to be shot unless Tyler can manage to catch the thing. In the process, he and his partner, Windy, learn more about the real reason for all the horse disappearances.
The film stars Tom Tyler--a champion weightlifter turned actor in the late 1920s. While he isn't exactly a household name, Tyler starred in quite a few B-westerns as well as played the title character in the serial "The Adventures of Captain Marvel". I noticed another reviewer felt Tyler had real star quality. I thought he was very handsome and capable with the horses--but also a bit wooden. In addition, he and the rest of the actors could have used some lessons on how to stage fights, as they looked more like they were wrestling than fighting! This is especially true at the 36 minute mark! Even more lame is the scene where Tyler and another guy are trying to break down a door. You can really tell that this was NOT a western from one of the better production companies! All in all, not terrible but not exactly inspired either. A time passer at best.
As far as the story goes, though familiar, it's rather enjoyable. A group of horse thieves are blaming the loss of horses on a wild stallion that is supposedly leading the other horses away. However, the horse is innocent and is slated to be shot unless Tyler can manage to catch the thing. In the process, he and his partner, Windy, learn more about the real reason for all the horse disappearances.
The film stars Tom Tyler--a champion weightlifter turned actor in the late 1920s. While he isn't exactly a household name, Tyler starred in quite a few B-westerns as well as played the title character in the serial "The Adventures of Captain Marvel". I noticed another reviewer felt Tyler had real star quality. I thought he was very handsome and capable with the horses--but also a bit wooden. In addition, he and the rest of the actors could have used some lessons on how to stage fights, as they looked more like they were wrestling than fighting! This is especially true at the 36 minute mark! Even more lame is the scene where Tyler and another guy are trying to break down a door. You can really tell that this was NOT a western from one of the better production companies! All in all, not terrible but not exactly inspired either. A time passer at best.
TomTyler's Tops!
donwc19965 January 2010
I kinda enjoyed this old B western. I watched it because I think that Tom Tyler had real star quality---he had a small roles in Stagecoach and I Shot Jesse James & he was Great! In this film he and his sidekick, veteran Ben Corbett, prove to a rancher that his horses are not being hustled away by a white stallion----but some rustlers of the two-legged kind. Of course, there's a romantic angle too--but it's not played up too much. Shucks! When Tom Tyler began his movie career in the '20's, he started out as a stuntman. In his youth he had been a champion boxer & weightlifter. His good looks/charm quickly led him to stardom.
"...that horse ain't nothing' but a horse thief"!
classicsoncall14 November 2010
Warning: Spoilers
There's a reason these B Westerns were made for children's' matinees - if you put them under the microscope they really don't stand up to the light of day. But that's where I got a lot of nifty but ultimately unworkable ideas as a kid, like the one where Tom Riley (Tom Tyler) catches renegade white horse Phantom by fashioning a noose on some tree limbs. It should be so easy, like catching a rabbit under a box when you pull the string attached to the stick. It only works in the movies.
I have to say, Phantom did look rather phantom-like in some of those scenes where he appeared almost luminous. I've never seen that kind of quality in a picture this old, so I'm wondering if it was intended or just appears that way so many decades later. In the story, Phantom's being blamed for horses disappearing from the ranch of John Baker (Lafe McKee), but the real villain is neighboring rancher Mack (Richard Alexander) with an assist from Baker foreman Bert (not too Slim Whitaker).
Getting back to my earlier comment, there's a scene where Tyler lassos Phantom, and in the chase that follows, Tyler's pulled off his own horse, saddle and all. Really? - the saddle wasn't cinched to prevent it from falling off? But you have to give Phantom SOME credit, he did pull down that 'Wanted' poster of himself with the reward offered by Baker.
Hero Tyler is assisted here by Ben Corbett doing a hungry sidekick gimmick who believes in love at first bite. There's also a romantic interest portrayed by Alice Dahl, but boy, that scene by the river was one of the most dialog challenged exchanges I've ever listened to between the star and his leading lady.
Fortunately, two legged rustler Mack is exposed in the end, saving the fate of the four legged hero Phantom to roam the range for another day. Not only that, but as Tyler and his lady close out the picture in a clinch, Phantom winds up with Helen Baker's mare for a little horsing around of his own.
I have to say, Phantom did look rather phantom-like in some of those scenes where he appeared almost luminous. I've never seen that kind of quality in a picture this old, so I'm wondering if it was intended or just appears that way so many decades later. In the story, Phantom's being blamed for horses disappearing from the ranch of John Baker (Lafe McKee), but the real villain is neighboring rancher Mack (Richard Alexander) with an assist from Baker foreman Bert (not too Slim Whitaker).
Getting back to my earlier comment, there's a scene where Tyler lassos Phantom, and in the chase that follows, Tyler's pulled off his own horse, saddle and all. Really? - the saddle wasn't cinched to prevent it from falling off? But you have to give Phantom SOME credit, he did pull down that 'Wanted' poster of himself with the reward offered by Baker.
Hero Tyler is assisted here by Ben Corbett doing a hungry sidekick gimmick who believes in love at first bite. There's also a romantic interest portrayed by Alice Dahl, but boy, that scene by the river was one of the most dialog challenged exchanges I've ever listened to between the star and his leading lady.
Fortunately, two legged rustler Mack is exposed in the end, saving the fate of the four legged hero Phantom to roam the range for another day. Not only that, but as Tyler and his lady close out the picture in a clinch, Phantom winds up with Helen Baker's mare for a little horsing around of his own.
Cowboy movies: That's what makes my world go 'round
morrisonhimself7 August 2015
There is a lot to like in any Tom Tyler movie, but in this one, there is some to dislike, too.
I saw "Coyote Trails" in a choppy print at YouTube, choppy enough to be irritating and distracting, but the movie itself is a pretty good one anyway.
There is some clever dialogue, including where the female lead, played by the unknown-to-me Alice Dahl, says, after Tom, played by Tom Tyler, explains his idea on how to catch the wild horse, "The weak female always lures the brave male." Then Tom replies, "I guess that's what makes the world go 'round." And when in fact the wild horse gets together with the woman's mare, he gets to say again, "I guess that's what makes the world go 'round."
Cute and clever dialogue in a script that also has some holes. For example, Tom decides early on, with no apparent reason, the horse is not really the thief.
The editing and directing could both be tighter, and, worst of all, the fight scenes lacked the choreography of Yakima Canutt, and looked ... lame, un-realistic ... at least un-movie-realistic.
Oh, one other complaint: The female costumes. All the women were dressed for about 1935, even though the men looked about 1880. I've seen that in many another western, but it is still jarring, very anachronistic.
All the players were acceptable, except possibly Miss Dahl, and she was cute. But Slim Whitaker gave one of his usual great performances and the venerable Lafe McKee shone also, as usual.
The chief bad guy is another unknown-to-me actor, Richard Alexander, billed here as Dick Alexander. He was very believable, kinda clumsy and gauche, and pretty much what I would expect of someone his size trying to outwit his neighbor. Intriguing performance.
I very much recommend "Coyote Trails," despite the pointless generic title, and despite the bad print. Hey, Tom Tyler is in it.
I saw "Coyote Trails" in a choppy print at YouTube, choppy enough to be irritating and distracting, but the movie itself is a pretty good one anyway.
There is some clever dialogue, including where the female lead, played by the unknown-to-me Alice Dahl, says, after Tom, played by Tom Tyler, explains his idea on how to catch the wild horse, "The weak female always lures the brave male." Then Tom replies, "I guess that's what makes the world go 'round." And when in fact the wild horse gets together with the woman's mare, he gets to say again, "I guess that's what makes the world go 'round."
Cute and clever dialogue in a script that also has some holes. For example, Tom decides early on, with no apparent reason, the horse is not really the thief.
The editing and directing could both be tighter, and, worst of all, the fight scenes lacked the choreography of Yakima Canutt, and looked ... lame, un-realistic ... at least un-movie-realistic.
Oh, one other complaint: The female costumes. All the women were dressed for about 1935, even though the men looked about 1880. I've seen that in many another western, but it is still jarring, very anachronistic.
All the players were acceptable, except possibly Miss Dahl, and she was cute. But Slim Whitaker gave one of his usual great performances and the venerable Lafe McKee shone also, as usual.
The chief bad guy is another unknown-to-me actor, Richard Alexander, billed here as Dick Alexander. He was very believable, kinda clumsy and gauche, and pretty much what I would expect of someone his size trying to outwit his neighbor. Intriguing performance.
I very much recommend "Coyote Trails," despite the pointless generic title, and despite the bad print. Hey, Tom Tyler is in it.
"So Long Handsome"!!!
kidboots25 June 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Tom and Windy are set upon when they head to the Bar X Ranch - the assailants claim there is a lot of horse rustling going on lately and the blame is put squarely on wild horse Phantom, a beautiful Palomino who is nobody's fool.
But before the film has been running 8 minutes it is made clear that the real rustlers are the ranch foreman in cahoots with neighbouring rancher Richard Alexander and his side kick (I could swear it is Bob Kortman) - 2 of the best western baddies ever!!! In fact Phantom is corralling the horses into a cave for their safety. His actions are seen but he is deemed the horse thief!!!
Tom Tyler was a terrific movie cowboy and had several careers (sailor, boxer, coal miner) before finding himself in L.A. and getting work as a movie extra and stuntman. His athleticism as well as his looks soon led to a series of silent westerns and by the early 1940s was still going strong. Our heroes come along just in time to get Phantom out of a trap and to save him from being shot (there is a price on his head) and he does not forget their kindness.
When Tom saves Helen and she tells him all about the Phantom, Tom's love of horses surfaces and he pleads to be able to bring the beautiful horse in alive and also to investigate who the real horse thieves are - especially when he finds the wire fencing has been deliberately cut!! As Tom says "unless the horse is travelling with a pair of wire cutters"!!!
Alice Dahl was just one of many pretty girls who never made the grade in movies. She had bit parts in "Babes in Toyland" and "The Whole Town's Talking" but "Coyote Trails" was probably her biggest role!!
But before the film has been running 8 minutes it is made clear that the real rustlers are the ranch foreman in cahoots with neighbouring rancher Richard Alexander and his side kick (I could swear it is Bob Kortman) - 2 of the best western baddies ever!!! In fact Phantom is corralling the horses into a cave for their safety. His actions are seen but he is deemed the horse thief!!!
Tom Tyler was a terrific movie cowboy and had several careers (sailor, boxer, coal miner) before finding himself in L.A. and getting work as a movie extra and stuntman. His athleticism as well as his looks soon led to a series of silent westerns and by the early 1940s was still going strong. Our heroes come along just in time to get Phantom out of a trap and to save him from being shot (there is a price on his head) and he does not forget their kindness.
When Tom saves Helen and she tells him all about the Phantom, Tom's love of horses surfaces and he pleads to be able to bring the beautiful horse in alive and also to investigate who the real horse thieves are - especially when he finds the wire fencing has been deliberately cut!! As Tom says "unless the horse is travelling with a pair of wire cutters"!!!
Alice Dahl was just one of many pretty girls who never made the grade in movies. She had bit parts in "Babes in Toyland" and "The Whole Town's Talking" but "Coyote Trails" was probably her biggest role!!
Horse Rustler
StrictlyConfidential17 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
"Coyote Trails" was originally released back in 1935.
Anyway - As the story goes - Tom and Windy return home to discover horses have been rustled from local ranches and a wild horse is blamed for the trouble. When Tom catches up with the wild horse and breaks it, he realizes the blame lies elsewhere for the missing horses.
Anyway - As the story goes - Tom and Windy return home to discover horses have been rustled from local ranches and a wild horse is blamed for the trouble. When Tom catches up with the wild horse and breaks it, he realizes the blame lies elsewhere for the missing horses.
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