Border Phantom (1937)

Cowboy Larry O'Day and his sidekick Lucky Smith happen upon a distraught Barbara Hartwell, who is about to be arrested for the murder of her uncle. With Barbara behind bars, Larry is ... See full summary »

Director:

S. Roy Luby

Writers:

Fred Myton (original story), Fred Myton (screenplay)

Stars:

Bob Steele, Harley Wood, Don Barclay

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bob Steele	...	Larry O'Day
Harley Wood	...	Barbara Hartwell
Don Barclay	...	Lucky Smith
Karl Hackett	...	Obed Young
Horace Murphy	...	Sheriff
Miki Morita	...	Chan Lee
Perry Murdock	...	Jim Barton
John S. Peters	...	Dr. Von Kurtz (as John Peters)
Frank Ball	...	Professor Andrew Hartwell

Storyline

Cowboy Larry O'Day and his sidekick Lucky Smith happen upon a distraught Barbara Hartwell, who is about to be arrested for the murder of her uncle. With Barbara behind bars, Larry is determined to find the real killer and soon finds himself in the middle of a mystery involving crazed German entomologists and a smuggling ring bringing Chinese "picture girls" across the Mexican border for sale to wealthy Chinese bachelors.

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Plot Keywords:

chinese | murder | smuggling | entomologist | jail break | 

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Genres:

Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 June 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

O Fantasma da Fronteira

Filming Locations:

Walker Ranch - 19152 Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Supreme Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Variety (17 February 1937) credits Hans Joby with the role of Dr. Von Kurtz, but film credits as well as visual examination confirm that 'John S. Peters (I)' plays the part.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[to a reporter who is cleaning his fingernails]
Big-City Editor: If you discover paydirt, let me know.

User Reviews

It Don't Get Much Worse

Border Phantom stars Bob Steele who when he was a B movie Cowboy hero, I always got the impression he was trying to be a James Cagney out west. Steele was a short man like Cagney and always played it with a chip on his shoulder.

Republic did not do right by it Mr. Steele at least in this one. I guess that after Gene Autry and Roy Rogers the other cowboy heroes got the leavings. This was definitely a story need not to have been filmed as Bob Steele puts an end to of all things, a racket involving arranged Chinese marriages. Who'd a thunk it.

Bob Steele was certainly capable of better things, just see him in The Big Sleep. And he was always great as a villain like in The Big Sleep or South of St. Louis with Joel McCrea.

He should have concentrated there instead of making these forgettable oaters.