mmargrajr Reviews

Legends & Lies: Bass Reeves: The Real Lone Ranger (2015) Season 1, Episode 9

Documentary based on "Assumptions," not Facts

[2/10 · 16 January 2016]

If you google "Bass reeves was not the Lone Ranger," you will come across a blog where an author posted scanned historical documents that debunk this myth. I am shocked that Bill O'Reilly would loan his name out to this production on something that is not historic fact.

During the documentary, it is admitted that this is an assumption, not a fact. But historians also have the responsibility of not citing "assumptions" because too many people never hear the words they should and assumptions become fact. Now lots of websites (all citing Bill O'Reilly) claim The Lone Ranger was based on Bass Reeves and the website I mentioned can easily verify with historic documents to back this up. Shame on O'Reilly. I expected better from him.

California Joe (1943)

Grizzly deaths for a western

[6/10 · 31 December 2010]

While not one of the best of the Don "Red" Barry westerns, I am still at a loss as to why Republic never bothered using Barry as a villain in a number of gangster films. Barry could have become Republic's equivalent to Warners' James Cagney. But in this western, Barry plays a spy with a short temper and a quick trigger. He even shoot and kills two people at different times in the same room on the same day! When I first saw this movie at the Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Convention in Maryland a few years ago, I was shocked to discover how much Republic reused costumes, streets and sets. Barry's residence, as established in the beginning of the movie, is a deserted mine and it's the same sets used for a number of Republic cliffhanger serials. Want to see more repeated use of props and sets? Watch this film and scrutinize the background closely.

Silver Stallion (1941)

Obscure cowboy westerns for cowboy fans

[6/10 · 30 December 2010]

Average western from Monogram studios. David Sharpe was a stunt man for numerous cowboy westerns so it seemed logical that he get the chance to star in his own western. Radio actress Janet Waldo, best known today for voicing "Judy Jetson" on THE JETSONS, plays a small role in the film. I'd like to know more about "Captain Boots" the famous police dog and "Thunder" the Wonder Horse, which makes appearances in this movie. I saw this movie at the 2007 Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Convention in Maryland and the crowd consisted of cowboy fans who felt it was overlooked. A cinematic masterpiece? No. But a great film to pass an hour? Yes, if you love cowboy westerns. And David Sharpe is doing his own stunts!