''Mystery Ranch'' is a 1934 American

comedy Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

film co-produced and directed by

Bernard B. Ray Bernard Benny Ray (born Benjamin Shamrayevsky, November 18, 1895 - December 10, 1964) was a Russian-born American film producer and director. He is closely associated with the production of low-budget B films of Poverty Row, involved with compan ...

and starring

Tom Tyler Tom Tyler (born Vincent Markowski; August 9, 1903 – May 1, 1954) was an American actor known for his leading roles in low-budget Western films in the silent and sound eras, and for his portrayal of superhero Captain Marvel in the 1941 s ...

Roberta Gale Roberta Gale (October 18, 1914 – January 29, 2008) was an American actress. She is known for her roles as a leading lady in a number of Poverty Row western films made during the 1930s. The daughter of J.M. Gale and Blanche Harris Gale, she wa ...

and

Jack Perrin Jack Perrin (born Lyman Wakefield Perrin; July 25, 1896 – December 17, 1967) was an American actor specializing in Westerns. Early life Perrin was born in Three Rivers, Michigan. His father worked in real estate and relocated the family ...

.Pitts, p. 313. It was Tyler's first of 18 films for

Reliable Pictures Reliable Pictures was an American film production and film distribution, distribution company which operated from 1933 until 1937. Established by Harry S. Webb and Bernard B. Ray, it was a low-budget Poverty Row outfit that primarily specialized in ...

Plot

Pulp Pulp may refer to: * Pulp (fruit), the inner flesh of fruit Engineering * Dissolving pulp, highly purified cellulose used in fibre and film manufacture * Pulp (paper), the fibrous material used to make paper * Molded pulp, a packaging material * ...

Western writer Bob Morris is invited to a

dude ranch A guest ranch, also known as a dude ranch, is a type of ranch oriented towards visitors or tourism. It is considered a form of agritourism. History Guest ranches arose in response to the romanticization of the American West that began to occur ...

whose owner Mrs. Henderson promises will feature the "real" dangerous

Wild West The American frontier, also known as the Old West or the Wild West, encompasses the geography, history, folklore, and culture associated with the forward wave of American expansion in mainland North America that began with European colonial ...

. In reality Mrs. Henderson arranges a variety of fake lynchings, cattle rustling and dangerous situations to frighten Mr. Morris and gain publicity for her ranch. The joke backfires because Morris is a skilled horseman and expert fighter who impresses Mrs. Henderson and her daughter Mary. Morris and his secretary Percy Jenkins view an automobile hold up that they believe is another of Mrs. Henderson's tricks. In reality it is an actual holdup of gold bullion with the robbers coming to Mrs. Henderson's ranch.

Cast

as Bob Morris *

as Mary Henderson * Louise Cabo as Mrs. Henderson *

(billed as Jack Gable) as George Andrews *

Frank Hall Crane Frank Hall Crane (January 1, 1873 – September 1, 1948) was an American stage and film actor and film director, director.Charles King as Sam *

Tom London Tom London (born Leonard T. Clapman; August 24, 1889 – December 5, 1963) was an American actor who played frequently in B-Westerns. According to ''The Guinness Book of Movie Records'', London is credited with appearing in the most films in ...

as Holdup Man *

George Chesebro George Newell Chesebro (July 29, 1888 – May 28, 1959) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 400 films between 1915 and 1954. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and died in Los Angeles, California. Partial filmography * ''Mi ...

as Holdup Man *

Lafe McKee Lafayette S. "Lafe" McKee (January 23, 1872 – August 10, 1959) was an American actor who appeared in more than 400 films from 1912 to 1948. Part of his career was spent with Art Mix Productions. McKee also worked as a stage actor from 19 ...

as Sheriff

References

Bibliography

* Pitts, Michael R. ''Poverty Row Studios, 1929–1940: An Illustrated History of 55 Independent Film Companies, with a Filmography for Each''. McFarland & Company, 2005.

External links

* 1934 films 1934 comedy films 1930s Western (genre) comedy films American Western (genre) comedy films American black-and-white films Films about writers Films directed by Bernard B. Ray Reliable Pictures films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films English-language Western (genre) comedy films {{1930s-Western-film-stub