Riders of Destiny (1933)

Bad guy Kincaid controls the local water supply and plans to do in the other ranchers. Government agent Saunders shows up undercover to do in Kincaid and win the heart of one of his victims Fay Denton.

Director:

Robert N. Bradbury

Writer:

Robert N. Bradbury (story) (as R.N. Bradbury)

Stars:

John Wayne, Cecilia Parker, Forrest Taylor

Cast

Complete credited cast:
John Wayne	...	Singin' Sandy Saunders
Cecilia Parker	...	Fay Denton
Forrest Taylor	...	James Kincaid
George 'Gabby' Hayes	...	Charlie Denton (as George Hayes)
Al St. John	...	Bert - Henchman
Heinie Conklin	...	Elmer - Henchman
Yakima Canutt	...	Henchman
Earl Dwire	...	Slip Morgan
Lafe McKee	...	Sheriff Bill Baxter
Addie Foster	...	Mrs. Mason

Storyline

Kincade controls the area's water supply and is about to force the ranchers into contracts at exorbitant rates. Government Agent Saunders has a plan that will open up the lost river and dry up Kincade's supply. So he gets the ranchers to insist on a clause that Kincade's land will revert to the public if he fails to deliver water.

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Plot Keywords:

singing cowboy | b movie | b western | poverty row film | low budget film | 

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Taglines:

A Great Western Star in a WHIRLWIND of ACTION! (1947 poster)

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Genres:

Music | Romance | Western

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 October 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

Den maskerede røver

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paul Malvern Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

53 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Balsley & Phillips Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Wayne could not sing. The songs were dubbed by the son of director Robert N. Bradbury.

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Goofs

When Saunders first appears in the film, he is carrying a guitar and singing. The guitar is not with him when he gives his horse to Faye Denton to make her escape, but he has it back when he is at the Denton's house and sings to the family.

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Quotes

Singin' Sandy Saunders: Howdy, folks. Could you tell me where the Sheriff is?
James Kincaid: Oh, I take charge when he isn't here. Can I do anything I can you do for you?
Singin' Sandy Saunders: Thanks, I'll wait for him.
James Kincaid: The Sheriff didn't care especially for this job - he might not come back.
Singin' Sandy Saunders: I'll take that chance. I have an idea he *will* come back.
[Singin' Sandy leaves the jailhouse]
James Kincaid: I don't like the way that fellow talks. We'll watch him.

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Alternate Versions

This film, and most of the rest of the "Lone Star Films" John Wayne catalogue no longer have their original musical score, save for Wayne's singing (whether from copyright problems or sound deterioration is unclear), and were replaced sometime in the 1980s with a score done on a synthesizer.

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Connections

Featured in Golden Saddles, Silver Spurs (2000)

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Soundtracks

A Cowboy's Song of Fate
(uncredited)
Composer unknown
Performed by John Wayne

User Reviews

Introducing "Singin" Sandy Saunders

"Riders of Destiny" was the first of several westerns Wayne made for the Lone Star arm of Monogram Pictures between 1933 and 1935. In this entry, the producers try to make the Duke into a singing cowboy called "Singin' Sandy Saunders with hilarious results. Any Wayne fan knows that the Duke couldn't have carried a tune if his life had depended on it. His voice was apparently dubbed by Smith Ballew whose deep baritone sounds nothing like Wayne. Wayne looks awkward and uncomfortable in "performing" the musical numbers. Thank heavens the singing cowboy experiment soon ended.

As for the movie itself, it contains a standard "B" western plot of the fight over water rights between the villain (Forrest Taylor) and the local ranchers. Duke, of course plays the hero. He had not yet developed his on screen character and still looked like a poverty row cowboy.

Also cast in the film were George (pre-Gabby) Hayes as the heroine's father, Cecilia Parker as the heroine and Yakima Canutt as "one of the boys" who performs his "falling from the racing horses under the wagon" stunt while doubling Wayne. Both Canutt and Hayes would go on to appear with Wayne in most of the other entries in the series. Canutt, in particular would have a profound effect on Wayne's future development teaching him, among other things, how to move, fight and look comfortable on a horse.

As "B" westerns go this one isn't too bad, however, I have to give it a failing grade because of the "singing".