''Prairie Thunder'' is a 1937 American

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 directed by B. Reeves Eason and written by

Ed Earl Repp Ed Earl Repp (1901–1979) was an American writer, screenwriter and novelist. His stories appeared in several of the early pulp magazines including ''Air Wonder Stories'', '' Science Wonder Stories'' and ''Amazing Stories''. After World War II ...

. The film stars

Dick Foran John Nicholas "Dick" Foran (June 18, 1910 – August 10, 1979) was an American actor, known for his performances in Western musicals and for playing supporting roles in dramatic pictures. Early years Foran was born in Flemington, New Jer ...

, Janet Shaw, Frank Orth,

Wilfred Lucas Wilfred Van Norman Lucas (January 30, 1871 – December 13, 1940) was a Canadian American stage actor who found success in film as an actor, director, and screenwriter. Early life Lucas was born in Norfolk County, Ontario on January 30, 1871,US ...

, Albert J. Smith and

Yakima Canutt Enos Edward "Yakima" Canutt (November 29, 1895 – May 24, 1986) was an American champion rodeo rider, actor, stuntman, and action director. He developed many stunts for films and the techniques and technology to protect stuntmen in performing t ...

. The film was released by

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

on September 11, 1937. It was the last of 12 B-westerns Foran made for Warners as a singing cowboy (as he was often billed) from 1935 to 1937.

Plot

In the

Old 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 ...

, a telegraph line is coming to Buffalo Creek, where general store owner Nate Temple lives with daughter, Joan. Joan is courting Rod Farrell, a scout for the Union Army. Rod is ordered to investigate a break in the telegraph line, along with sidekick, Wichita, a Union soldier. Rod finds the break in the line in Indian territory and repairs it. Rod suspects a white man assisted the local Indian tribe in sabotaging the line. Rod and Wichita ride up on an Indian camp. The Indian chief, High Wolf, tells Rod the Indians intend to make war because the railroad and the telegraph coming to the region have depleted the buffalo population. High Wolf confirms a white man, who he will not name, is the only friend to his tribe. Rod and Wichita discover a man named Lynch and his gang are supplying the Indians with weapons and ammunition in exchange for the Indians hijacking supply trains. Rod and Wichita breach the gang's hideout, take Lynch and his gang into custody, hold them at Temple's store, and telegraph the cavalry for help. Rod rides off with Joan while Wichita guards the gang. Matson, one of Lynch's men not arrested, tells High Wolf of the gang's arrest, and a slew of Indian braves invade Buffalo Creek terrorizing the town with gunfire. Rod and Joan, hearing the gunfire, head toward town. Matson and High Wolf free the gang and Lynch orders the Indians to burn the town. Lynch intercepts Rod and Joan. Rod is taken to the Indian camp. Joan is taken to Lynch's hideout. Wichita overhears Lynch and sneaks into the Indian camp where Rod is tied to a stake to be burned. Lynch also arrives at the camp telling high Wolf to strike the railroad workers camp. Wichita, dressed as an Indian, frees Rod and the pair head for Lynch's hideout where they rescue Joan then head to the railroad construction camp with the Indians in pursuit. The citizens of Buffalo Creek, now displaced after the town was burned, fortify their wagons on the outskirts of town and a gunfight ensues as the Indians arrive. Rod, Wichita and Joan join in the fight. The cavalry arrives and the Indians retreat. High Wolf is shot and Rod subdues Lynch. Rod is awarded a congressional medal and promoted to colonel. Rod and Joan ride off as Rod sings "The Prairie Is My Home."

Cast

as Rod Farrell * Janet Shaw as Joan Temple * Frank Orth as Wichita *

as Nate Temple * Albert J. Smith as Lynch *

as High Wolf *

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 * '' M ...

as Matson * Slim Whitaker as Indian Fighter * J. P. McGowan as Colonel Stanton *

John Harron John Harron (March 31, 1903 – November 24, 1939) was an American actor. He appeared in more than 160 films between 1918 and 1940. Born in New York, New York, he was the brother of actor Robert Harron and of actress Mary Harron. Harron di ...

as Lieutenant Adams *

Jack Mower Jack Mower (September 5, 1890 – January 6, 1965) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 520 films between 1914 and 1965. He was born in Honolulu and died in Hollywood. After studying at Punahou College, in Honolulu, Mower moved ...

as Portland *

Henry Otho Henry Otho (February 6, 1888 – June 6, 1940) was an American actor. He has worked in ''The Big Stampede'' (1932), ''Mary Stevens'' (1933), '' Hard to Handle'' (1933), ''The Mayor of Hell'' (1933), ''Baby Face'' (1933), ''Mandalay'' (1934), '' ...

as Chris *

Paul Panzer Paul Wolfgang Panzerbeiter (November 3, 1872 – August 16, 1958), known professionally as Paul Panzer, was a German-American silent film actor. He appeared in more than 330 films between 1905 and 1952. Biography Panzer was born in Würzburg. ...

as Jed

References

External links

* * * * {{B. Reeves Eason 1937 films American Western (genre) films 1937 Western (genre) films Warner Bros. films Films directed by B. Reeves Eason American black-and-white films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films