The Vigilante: Fighting Hero of the West (1947)

Columbia's 33rd serial (made between "Jack Armstrong" and "The Sea Hound") was based on the character that first appeared in "Action Comics" No. 42, who was a radio singing cowboy who ... See full summary »

Director:

Wallace Fox

Writers:

Arthur Hoerl (screenplay), Lewis Clay (screenplay),

Stars:

Ralph Byrd, Ramsay Ames, Lyle Talbot

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ralph Byrd	...	Greg Sanders / The Vigilante
Ramsay Ames	...	Betty Winslow
Lyle Talbot	...	George Pierce
George Offerman Jr.	...	Stuff
Robert Barron	...	Prince Hamil
Hugh Prosser	...	Police Capt. Reilly
Jack Ingram	...	Silver / X-2
Eddie Parker	...	Doc / X-3
Tiny Brauer	...	Thorne, a.k.a. X-9 [Chs.9-11,14-15] (as Bill Brauer)

Storyline

Columbia's 33rd serial (made between "Jack Armstrong" and "The Sea Hound") was based on the character that first appeared in "Action Comics" No. 42, who was a radio singing cowboy who doubled as a crime-fighting, motorcycle-riding crime-fighter with a pre-teen Chinese boy, Stuff, as his answer to Batman's Robin, although Stuff ran a lot or errands that Robin didn't have to do since the Dynamic Duo had Alfred the Butler (both versions) to do those. In the serial version, Stuff became a white, draft-age sidekick played by George Offerman Jr.(and we are still looking for any film made in the 30's and 40's that this actor was billed as the incorrect George Offerman rather than the correct George Offerman Jr), which fit right in with the costume changes that Columbia tagged The Vigilante character with; a snappy-brim fedora and a Montgomery Ward catalog white Gene Autry- style shirt instead of the large flat-brimmed hat and double-button blue shirt he wore in the comic books. The nose-chin...

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Plot Keywords:

serial | vigilante | rubies | bandana | movie star | 

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Taglines:

THE THRILL-A-SECOND SUPER-SERIAL! (original poster-all caps)

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Genres:

Action | Crime

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 May 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mystiriodis ekdikitis

Filming Locations:

Corriganville, Ray Corrigan Ranch, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

285 min 285 min (15 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Chapter Titles:

• 1. The Vigilante Rides Again
• 2. Mystery of the White Horses
• 3. Double Peril!
• 4. Desperate Flight
• 5. In the Gorilla's Cage
• 6. Battling the Unknown
• 7. Midnight Rendezvous
• 8. Blasted to Eternity
• 9. The Fatal Flood
• 10. Danger Ahead
• 11. X-1 Closes In
• 12. Danger Rides the Rails
• 13. The Trap That Failed
• 14. Closing In
• 15. The Secret of the Skyroom

User Reviews

Action was slow but enjoyable

The plot was interesting and unique. However, it was stretched thin and some chapters dragged. 12 chapters would have been better than 15. Ralph Byrd was rather wooden in the title role and a slightly younger actor like Kane Richmond or Clayton Moore would have been preferable. Ramsey Ames was great as the heroine. I thoroughly enjoyed her singing. The comic book Vigilante was a country and western singer. It's too bad that more country music was not featured as it might have made the serial move faster. Lyle Talbot was adequate as the villain but Charles Middleton would have been better. The sidekick Stuff did not provide the comic relief that is typical of most sidekicks. George Offerman,Jr.was no Smiley Burnette.