''The Arizona Ranger'' is a 1948 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 John Rawlins and starring Tim Holt and his father Jack.Richard Jewell & Vernon Harbin, ''The RKO Story.'' New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House, 1982. p228 RKO head of production

Dore Schary Isadore "Dore" Schary (August 31, 1905 – July 7, 1980) was an American playwright, director, and producer for the stage and a prolific screenwriter and producer of motion pictures. He directed just one feature film, '' Act One'', the film bio ...

, impressed by the Holts being in '' The Treasure of the Sierra Madre'', gave the film a bigger budget than Holt Westerns normally received. It was also known as ''The Arizona Ranger''.

Plot

Bob Morgan is mustered out of Teddy Roosevelt's

Rough Riders The Rough Riders was a nickname given to the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, one of three such regiments raised in 1898 for the Spanish–American War and the only one to see combat. The United States Army was small, understaffed, and di ...

to join the

Arizona Rangers The Arizona Rangers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, noncommissioned civilian auxiliary that supports law enforcement in the US, state of Arizona. In 2002, the modern-day Arizona Rangers were officially recognized by the State of Arizona when the Le ...

. However Bob's father, Rawhide Morgan, wants him to help run Rawhide's cattle ranch. Instead, Bob tells his friend, Chito Rafferty, to stay and assist with the farm. Rawhide resents Bob leaving the ranch. Bob arrests Nimino Welch, a fugitive from justice, and member of Quirt Butler's gang. During Nimino's transfer to prison, the stagecoach is attacked by Quirt. Nimino is freed, but while riding off, Quirt is wounded by gunfire when Ben Riddle and Rawhide intervene. Bob trails Quirt to his house where Quirt's wife, Laura, lies as to Quirt's whereabouts. Quirt notices Bob and Laura are attracted to each other. Rawhide fires Chito who happily leaves to join Bob's rangers. Quirt's gang rustle Rawhide's cattle, killing Ben Riddle. Rawhide and his farm hands arrive at Quirt's house and take him away to be lynched, assuming he was the one who killed Ben. Laura reports the abduction to Bob, who realizes Laura lied earlier about Quirt's whereabouts. Bob intervenes to prevent his father from hanging Quirt. Rawhide hits Bob and rides off with the lynch mob. Bob is stunned that his own father would strike him. Chito arrives and takes Quirt into custody. Laura returns home to find henchmen Nimino and Jaspar Todd waiting for Quirt. She convinces the men to remain at her home while she tells Bob, who is holding Quirt at the jail. Bob and the other rangers leave town to arrest Nimino and Jaspar. With Bob away, the rest of Quirt's gang ride into town to free him. During the melee, they shoot up the town and kill one of the rangers who stayed behind. Bob returns to find his colleague dead, and accuses Laura of being part of the plot to free Quirt. Bob is relieved of his duties by the governor. In a show of loyalty, Chito quits. Bob heads to Laura's house. Nimino and Jaspar arrive to retrieve Laura, but she refuses to go. Bob arrives and a fight ensues, during which Laura shoots Nimino. Jaspar escapes with Bob in pursuit. Quirt and his gang force Bob off his horse, but Bob resists and a gunfight ensues. Meanwhile, Laura seeks help from Rawhide who initially refuses, but has a change of heart. Bob runs out of ammunition just as Rawhide and his farm hands arrive and chase off the gang. Bob tries to subdue Quirt who is shot and killed by Rawhide. Father and son are reconciled. Rawhide apologizes to the newly widowed Laura and asks to escort her as she leaves town on the stagecoach. Chito tells Bob he needs to intervene before Laura becomes his mother rather than his wife. Bob hurriedly rides off in pursuit of the stagecoach.

Cast

* Tim Holt as Bob Morgan * Jack Holt as Rawhide Morgan *

Nan Leslie Nanette June Leslie (June 4, 1926 – July 30, 2000) was an American actress. She was known for playing Martha McGivern in the American western television series '' The Californians''. Life and career Leslie was born in Los Angeles, Cali ...

as Laura Butler * Richard Martin as Chito Rafferty * Steve Brodie as Quirt Butler *

Paul Hurst Paul Michael Hurst (born 25 September 1974) is an English football manager and former player who is the manager of club Grimsby Town. As a player, he was a defender from 1993 to 2008, notably playing his entire career at Rotherham United, b ...

as Ben Riddle * James Nolan as Nimino Welch (as Jim Nolan) *

Robert Bray Robert E. Bray (October 23, 1917 – March 7, 1983) was an American film and television actor known for playing the forest ranger Corey Stuart in the CBS series ''Lassie'', He also starred in ''Stagecoach West'' and as Mike Hammer in the mo ...

as Jasper Todd *

Richard Benedict Richard "Pepe" Benedict (born Riccardo Benedetto, January 8, 1920 – April 25, 1984) was an Italian-American television and film actor and director. He was born in Palermo, Italy. He appeared in dozens of television programs and movies from ...

as Ranger Gills * William Phipps as Ranger Mac * Harry Harvey as Payton - Stagecoach Agent

Rest of cast listed alphabetically

Lane Chandler as Captain G.W. McNeill (uncredited)

Chick Hannan Chester William Hannan (May 24, 1901 – August 14, 1980) was an American actor and rodeo performer. He was known for starring as Yucca Bill Thompson in the 1937 film ''Stars Over Arizona''. Hannah was born in Iron River, Michigan. In 1924 he ...

as Henchman (uncredited) Frank Matts as Cowhand (uncredited) Herman Nowlin as Herman - Stage Driver (uncredited) Chuck Roberson as Henchman (uncredited) Brick Sullivan as Townsman (uncredited)

References

External list

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Arizona Ranger, The 1948 films American Western (genre) films 1948 Western (genre) films RKO Pictures films American black-and-white films 1940s English-language films Films directed by John Rawlins 1940s American films