Raiders of Ghost City (1944)

Directors:

Lewis D. Collins
Ray Taylor

Writers:

Luci Ward (original screenplay) and
Morgan Cox (original screenplay)

Release Date:

25 July 1944 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | History | Western

Tagline:

13 CHAPTERS OF GUN-BLAZING THRILLS! (original posters - all caps)

Plot:

During the latter stages of the Civil War, a gang of supposed Confederates, headed by Alex Morel (Lionel Atwill)...

Plot Keywords:

Idaho | Confederate | Spy | Captain | Prussian

Cast

Dennis Moore	...	Capt. Steve Clark
Wanda McKay	...	Cathy Haines
Lionel Atwill	...	Erich von Rugen, alias Alex Morel
Joe Sawyer	...	Idaho Jones
Regis Toomey	...	Capt. Clay Randolph [Chs. 1-6]
Virginia Christine	...	Countess Elsa von Merck, alias Trina Dressard
Eddy Waller	...	Doc Blair (as Eddy C. Waller)
Emmett Vogan	...	Count Manfried von Rinkton, alias Carl Lawton [Chs. 6-7]
Addison Richards	...	Col. Sewell
Charles Wagenheim	...	Hugo Metzger, alias Abel Rackerby [Chs. 8-9]
Jack Ingram	...	Braddock - Confederate Outlaw
Edmund Cobb	...	Henchman Rawhide
Jack Rockwell	...	Bart - Raider
Ernie Adams	...	Hans Plattner, alias Bill Jasper
George Eldredge	...	Henry / Hank, Saloon Owner
Eugene Gericke	...	Lt. Jim Clark aka Jeff Logan (as Gene Garrick)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Alexander	...	Henchman (uncredited)
Martin Ashe	...	Johnny (uncredited)
Robert Barron	...	Cave Henchman (uncredited)
Lee Bennett	...	Sentry (uncredited)
Ray Bennett	...	Trooper (uncredited)
Roy Brent	...	Trooper (uncredited)
Ralph Bucko	...	Henchman (uncredited)
Roy Bucko	...	Henchman (uncredited)
Bob Burns	...	Omaha Stagecoach Driver (uncredited)
Fred Burns	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Budd Buster	...	Slim (uncredited)
Horace B. Carpenter	...	Poker-Player (uncredited)
John L. Cason	...	Barfly (uncredited)
Iron Eyes Cody	...	Indian (archive footage) (uncredited)
Paul Conrad	...	Trooper (uncredited)
Tex Cooper	...	Miner (uncredited)
Earle S. Dewey	...	Train Conductor (uncredited)
Frank Ellis	...	Stagecoach Driver (uncredited)
William Forrest	...	Maj. Graham (uncredited)
Art Fowler	...	Henchman (uncredited)
Allen Fox	...	Trooper (uncredited)
Joel Friedkin	...	Dan Lane (uncredited)
Jack Gardner	...	Raider (uncredited)
Pat Gleason	...	Treasury Agent #1 (uncredited)
Bennett Green	...	Trooper (uncredited)
Herman Hack	...	Henchman (uncredited)
Chick Hannan	...	Henchman (uncredited)
Louis Hart	...	Trooper (uncredited)
Joe Haworth	...	Train Vendor (uncredited)
Edward Howard	...	Henchman (uncredited)
Bill Hunter	...	Cave Henchman (uncredited)
Edward Hyland	...	Trask (uncredited)
George Irving	...	Sec. Fessenden (uncredited)
Perc Launders	...	Seaman (uncredited)
Nolan Leary	...	Townsman in Top Hat (uncredited)
Rex Lease	...	Maj. Norton (uncredited)
George J. Lewis	...	Fred (uncredited)
Ralph Linn	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Pierce Lyden	...	Train Henchman (uncredited)
Frank McCarroll	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Charles Miller	...	Sec, Stanton (uncredited)
Monte Montague	...	Stage Driver #3 (uncredited)
Carl O'Brien	...	Lt, . Martin (uncredited)
Artie Ortego	...	Henchman (uncredited)
Fred Parker	...	Omaha Agent (uncredited)
Lee Phelps	...	Garrick (uncredited)
Joey Ray	...	Trooper (uncredited)
Grandon Rhodes	...	Maj. Bell (uncredited)
Gene Roth	...	Grattan (uncredited)
William Ruhl	...	Rackerby's Clerk (uncredited)
Bernard Sell	...	Seaman (uncredited)
Jerry Shane	...	Telegram Boy (uncredited)
Charles Sherlock	...	Army Sergeant (uncredited)
Robin Short	...	Otto Murdock (uncredited)
Lee Shumway	...	Wells Fargo Agent (uncredited)
George Sowards	...	Stage Driver (uncredited)
Freddie Steele	...	Dep. Abbott (uncredited)
Clarence Straight	...	Tom Jackson (uncredited)
Ben Taggart	...	Dan #2 (uncredited)
Ray Teal	...	Joe Burke (uncredited)
Chief Thundercloud	...	Chief Tahona (uncredited)
Max Wagner	...	Trooper (uncredited)
Dan White	...	Soldier [Chs. 3-5] (uncredited)
Henry Wills	...	Knife Henchman (uncredited)

Directed by
Lewis D. Collins
Ray Taylor

Writing credits
Luci Ward		(original screenplay) and
Morgan Cox		(original screenplay) (as Morgan B. Cox)

Produced by
Morgan Cox	....	associate producer (as Morgan B. Cox)
Ray Taylor	....	associate producer

Cinematography by
Harry Neumann
William A. Sickner		(as William Sickner)

Film Editing by
Irving Birnbaum
Jack Dolan
Ace Herman
Alvin Todd
Edgar Zane

Art Direction by
Harold H. MacArthur		(as Harold MacArthur)

Stunts
Frank McCarroll	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ken Terrell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	....	fight double: Dennis Moore (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	....	stunts (uncredited)
Henry Wills	....	stunts (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Norman A. Cerf	....	supervising editor

Music Department
Charles Maxwell	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Sam Perry	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Milton Rosen	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Hans J. Salter	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Frank Skinner	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Other crew
Willard Holland	....	dialogue director

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1944) (USA) (theatrical)
• Salm Levy Jr. & Company (1944) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Hispano América Films (1944) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Selection Film (1944) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Universal Films Argentina (1944) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Universal Films Argentina (1944) (Paraguay) (theatrical)
• Universal Films Argentina (1944) (Uruguay) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures do Brazil (1944) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures Corporation of Chile (1944) (Chile) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures Corporation of Peru (1944) (Peru) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures Corporation of Peru (1944) (Bolivia) (theatrical)
• Universal Films (1944) (Panama) (theatrical)
• Universal Films (1944) (Costa Rica) (theatrical)
• Universal Films (1944) (Ecuador) (theatrical)
• Universal Films (1944) (Guatemala) (theatrical)
• Universal Films (1944) (Honduras) (theatrical)
• Universal Films (1944) (Nicaragua) (theatrical)
• Universal Films (1944) (El Salvador) (theatrical)
• La Universal (Cis Distribuidora de Peliculas) (1944) (Cuba) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures Corporation of Mexico (1944) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Jaime Puig Arosemena (1944) (Colombia) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures Corporation of Porta Rico (1944) (Puerto Rico) (theatrical)
• Luis Martinez Producciones Cinematograficas (1944) (Venezuela) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1944) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1944) (New Zealand) (theatrical)
• International Variety & Theatrical Agency (Agent of African Consolidated Films) (1944) (South Africa) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1944) (UK) (theatrical)
• VCI Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS) (as Video Communications Inc.)
• Universal (1947) (France) (theatrical)
• Finders Keepers Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Foothill Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Grapevine Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Western Trails Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• United Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• VCI Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

225 min (13 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Chapter Titles: 1. Murder by Accident (PCA No. 10141) 2. Flaming Treachery (PCA No.10142) 3. Death Rides Double (PCA No.10143) 4. Ghost City Terror (PCA No.10144) 5. The Fatal Lariat (PCA No.10145) 6. Water Rising (PCA No.10146) 7. Bullet Avalanche (PCA No.10147) 8. Death Laughs Last (PCA No.10148) 9. Cold Steel (PCA No.10149) 10.Showdown (PCA No.10150) 11.The Trail to Torture (PCA No.10151) 12.Calling All Buckboards (PCA No.10152) 13.Golden Vengeance (PCA No.10153)

Quotes:

[posing as Charles Mason, Captain Clark escapes an attempt on his life]
Countess Elsa von Merck, alias Trina Dressard:Mr. Mason, I just wanted you to tell you how glad I am that you're safe.
Captain Steve Clark:Why, thank you, Ms. Dessard. I feel pretty good about it myself.

Movie Connections:

Edited from Road Agent (1941)

Horror Star in Western

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Raiders of Ghost City is a decent western serial that has an interesting premise and the unusual casting of Lionel Atwill as the villain. The plot is set during the last days of the American Civil War where Union Army Captain Steve Clark (Dennis Moore) is dispatched under cover to Oro Grande California to stop a series of gold raids being perpetrated by Confederate Army Captain Clay Randolph (Regis Toomey), who was a West Point student with Clark. What no one knows, not even Randolph, is that the raiders actually work for saloon owner Alex Morel (Lionel Atwill), who is posing as a freelance spy for Randolph. In actuality Morel is a Prussian (ie German) secret agent who is secretly transporting the gold to his own country instead of to the Confederacy, his country wants to buy Alaska from Russia before anyone else knows it's on the market. This is a pretty complicated serial with lots of double crosses between Morel and Randolph and then Morel and his own men, who don't know he is a spy, plus a mystery informant hidden amongst the good guys who lets Morel know everything they do. There are also some great plot twists like the war ending after the half way point of the story and Randolph switching sides because even though he fought against the Union, he is still an American. The action is fast and furious with lots of shoot outs, fist fights and horse back chases. But the real draw is Atwill, who snaps out lines with cultured glee and contempt at every turn, a true high light is his scene where he uncouples a train car with the hero in it so that will slide back down a mountain and crash. He nonchalantly wipes grease off his hands while casually commenting to a fellow conspirator about the unfortunate accident that has just happened to their enemy. Nobody in film was ever cooler.