Harlem Rides the Range (1939)

A cowboy and his sidekick try to help a homesteader from being cheated out of his property.

Director:

Richard C. Kahn

Writers:

Spencer Williams (story) (as Spencer Williams Jr.), Spencer Williams (screenplay) (as Spencer Williams Jr.)

Stars:

Herb Jeffries, Lucius Brooks, F.E. Miller

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Herb Jeffries	...	Bob Blake (as Herbert Jeffrey)
Lucius Brooks	...	Dusty
F.E. Miller	...	Slim Perkins
Artie Young	...	Miss Dennison
Clarence Brooks	...	Bradley
Spencer Williams	...	Watson (as Spencer Williams Jr.)
Tom Southern	...	Connors
Leonard Christmas	...	Dennison
Wade Dumas	...	Sheriff
John Thomas	...	Cactus
The Four Tones	...	Singing Group
The Four Blackbirds	...	Singing Quartet

Storyline

Bradley is after Dennison's radium mine and it appears that his henchman Conners has killed him. When Blake arrives at Dennison's, Bradley and Conners arrive at the same time. When Blake leaves he drops a glove. Bradley kills Conners and uses the glove to frame Blake. Learning of Bradley's plan to kill Dennison's daughter, Blake escapes jail and sets out to reach her first.

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Plot Keywords:

radium mine | wrongful arrest | all black cast | murder | missing corpse | 

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Taglines:

Men Of Action Blaze A Trail Of Love And Lead As Law And Order Comes To The Old West!

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Genres:

Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 February 1939 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Sindewinder Vallley, Apple Valley, Californa, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hollywood Pictures Corporation (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

56 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was first shown on television Friday 1 December 1939 on New York City's pioneer, and still experimental television station W2XBS.

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Connections

Featured in That's Black Entertainment: Westerns (2002)

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Soundtracks

Prairie Flower
Sung by Herb Jeffries and The Four Tones

User Reviews

Average B Western With Above Average Music

Immediately noticeable in the opening credits was the name Spencer Williams, Jr. This should have been a guarantee of good quality, but Mr. Williams' acting skill was not matched by much of the cast nor was his screenplay as good as it could have been. The premise of the story was standard, and the dialog was at times too simple as if it had been written quickly with intent to fix it later. Some scenes had clever or natural spoken parts along with attempted humor that was consistent with other B westerns. Too often the actors spoke far too simple lines with far too long pauses between lines. Too bad.

Talent as a singer, rodeo champion, or athlete does not always qualify one to attempt acting as many movie cowboys had done. Often it was acceptable as a matter of authentication for the real cowboy to make it as a western movie actor. The same leniency is afforded to singers who make the leap into acting. Herb Jeffries and the Four Tones were definitely capable singers. Acting was not their forte. Sadly, the same is true for much of the cast. Herb Jeffries looked good as he filled the cowboy suit, and his acting was no worse than early Gene Autry entries into motion pictures. Maybe it was a little worse, but it worked for a cowboy movie. As the faithful sidekick, Dusty, Lucius Brooks had a likable presence that paralleled many sidekick performers. Perhaps if there had been more acting opportunities he could have become a better actor.

Musically, this movie had three song performances including the opening credits. It fit the feel of western music while the Four Tones added an Ink Spots style. Mr. Jeffries singing voice put him among the better cowboy singers. Had he wanted to continue to build a larger repertoire in the western music field he would be admired for that work today. We are all lucky that he left movies to work with Duke Ellington.

As Bob Blake, Jeffries is the hero of Harlem Rides The Range while the actual heroism is shared between Blake and Cactus (John Thomas). Blake is the singing cowboy dressed better than everyone else as he investigates a possible crime and pursues the only girl in the movie. Cactus is the vigilant ranch hand who ultimately delivers justice with a gun. While Blake plays the happy cowboy, Cactus plays the determined man of righteous pursuit. Had the two characters been combined the viewer would have seen a character closer to Hopalong Cassidy or Buck Jones.

As a B western, Harlem Rides The Range is an average movie. It is enjoyable, just not outstanding.