6.6 /10 1 Votes
Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet Cinematography Reggie Lanning Release date 1944 Director Spencer Gordon Bennet Produced by Edward J. White | 6.5/10 IMDb Starring Wild Bill Elliott Distributed by Republic Pictures Initial release 14 May 1944 Music director Joseph Dubin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Music by Joseph Dubin, Mort Glickman, Paul Van Loan Cast Wild Bill Elliott, Robert Blake Written by Anthony Coldeway, Fred Harman Similar Sheriff of Las Vegas, The San Antonio Kid, Vigilantes of Dodge City, Great Stagecoach Robbery, Sheriff of Redwood Valley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tucson Raiders is a 1944 American film directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet starring Wild Bill Elliott in the role of Red Ryder. It was the first of twenty-three Red Ryder feature films that would be produced by Republic Pictures. The picture was shot on the studio’s back lot along with outdoor locations at Iverson Ranch, 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Plot
In this film set in 1895’s Painted Valley, Colorado, Wild Bill Elliott, makes his first appearance as Red Ryder and Robert Blake’s first as Little Beaver, Red discovers that he has been framed for murder. His little Indian pal, Little Beaver, manages to foil the corrupt Sheriff Kirk’s (Ed Cassidy) plan to kill Red as he escapes from jail. Hannah Rogers (Ruth Lee) in the pay of Governor York (Stanley Andrews), a dishonest politician, tries to trick Red in escaping jail. However, her scheme fails and Red Ryder shoots his way out. He manages to intercept a payroll robbery but finds that Little Beaver has been captured by the outlaws. The "red headed" cowboy exposes Hannah’s plot, saves Little Beaver and brings an end to Governor York’s gang.
Cast
Production
Tucson Raiders was based on Fred Harman’s comic strip, Red Ryder. It was the first of Republic's Red Ryder feature series and the first to star Wild Bill Elliott as Red Ryder and Robert Blake as Little Beaver. When Eliott was promoted up to the more adult features and replaced by Alan Lane, Blake continued on in the role for the remaining 22 films.