Border G-Man (1938)

Government agent Jim Galloway is sent undercover to investigate shifty businessman Louis Rankin for violations of the Neutrality Act, a law forbidding the exporting of troops and war ... See full summary »

Director:

David Howard

Writers:

Oliver Drake (screenplay), Bernard McConville (from the story by)

Stars:

George O'Brien, Laraine Day, Ray Whitley

Cast

Complete credited cast:
George O'Brien	...	Jim Galloway
Laraine Day	...	Betty Holden (as Laraine Johnson)
Ray Whitley	...	Luke Jones
John Miljan	...	Louis Rankin
Rita La Roy	...	Mrs. Rita Browning (as Rita LaRoy)
Edgar Dearing	...	Smoky Joslin
William Stelling	...	Leslie Holden
Edward Keane	...	Colonel Christie
Ethan Laidlaw	...	Henchman Curly
Hugh Sothern	...	Matt Rathburn
Bob Burns	...	Sheriff Clemens (as Bobby Burns)

Storyline

Government agent Jim Galloway is sent undercover to investigate shifty businessman Louis Rankin for violations of the Neutrality Act, a law forbidding the exporting of troops and war materiel to foreign countries. After hiring on as Rankin's new take-charge foreman, matters become more complicated as Galloway learns that Rankin has used Rita, his vampish girl friend, to dupe the governor's son into becoming partners in Rankin's schemes, which Rankin could later use to blackmail the governor, should the need arise.

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Plot Keywords:

ranch | blackmail | gulf coast | training | horse | 

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Taglines:

HOT-LEAD WELCOME OF BORDER GUN-RUNNERS! (original poster - all caps)

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Romance | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 June 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

G-Man da Fronteira

Filming Locations:

Andy Jauregui Ranch - Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The print shown on the Turner Classic Movies (TCM) channel is a re-release and inexplicably omits the director credit.

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Soundtracks

"Back in the Saddle Again"
(1938)
Music and Lyrics by Ray Whitley
Played by Art Davis, Earl Phelps, Norman Phelps, Willie Phelps and Ray Whitley and sung by Whitley at the party

User Reviews

Thoroughly ordinary bill filler

George O'Brien stars as an undercover government agent trying to root out villain John Miljan's arms smuggling racket in this ridiculous RKO programmer. Made at a time when America was scrupulously trying to avoid taking sides in the European troubles of the late '30s, Border G-Men imagines a world where evil ranchers try to circumvent the Neutrality Act by shipping guns to an unnamed and unknown third party, apparently across the Mexican border. The only saving grace of this picture is the inclusion of a handful of western swing songs by Gene Autry.