''Phantom of the Plains'' is a 1945 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

Lesley Selander Lesley Selander (May 26, 1900 – December 5, 1979) was an American film director of Western (genre), Westerns and adventure film, adventure movies. His career as director, spanning 127 feature films and dozens of TV episodes, lasted from 1936 to ...

starring

Wild Bill Elliott Wild Bill Elliott (born Gordon Nance, October 16, 1904 – November 26, 1965) was an American film actor. He specialized in playing the rugged heroes of B Westerns, particularly the Red Ryder series of films. Early life Elliott was born Gor ...

in the role of

Red Ryder Red is the color at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light, next to orange and opposite violet. It has a dominant wavelength of approximately 625–740 nanometres. It is a primary color in the RGB color model and a seconda ...

and costarring as Little Beaver, actor ''(Bobby)''

Robert Blake Robert Blake may refer to: Sportspeople * Bob Blake (American football) (1885–1962), American football player * Robbie Blake (born 1976), English footballer * Bob Blake (ice hockey) (1914–2008), American ice hockey player * Rob Blake (born 19 ...

. It was the ninth of twenty-three Red Ryder feature films that would be produced by

Republic Pictures Republic Pictures Corporation (currently held under Melange Pictures, LLC) was an American motion picture production-distribution corporation in operation from 1935 to 1967, that was based in Los Angeles. It had studio facilities in Studio City an ...

. The picture was shot on the studio’s back lot along with outdoor locations at

Iverson Ranch A movie ranch is a ranch that is at least partially dedicated for use as a set in the creation and production of motion pictures and television shows. These were developed in the United States in southern California, because of the climate. The fir ...

in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Plot

''(

)'' and Little Beaver ''(

) '' return to Blue Springs of 1895 only to discover that the Duchess ''(

Alice Fleming Alice Fleming, (August 9, 1882 – December 6, 1952) was a character actress in many films who also enjoyed considerable success on Broadway. She is best remembered as the Duchess, Wild Bill Elliott’s aunt in the Republic Pictures' Red Ryder ...

)'', Red’s aunt, is preparing to sell her stage coach line and marry an Englishman, Talbot Champneys ''(

Ian Keith Ian Keith (born Keith Ross; February 27, 1899 – March 26, 1960) was an American actor. Early years Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Keith grew up in Chicago. He was educated at the Francis Parker School there and played Hamlet in a school p ...

)''. Unbeknownst to them, Champneys is really a conman named Fancy Charlie, who has made a career of marrying rich women and then killing them for their money. The Duchess’ other suitors

Earle Hodgins Earle Hodgins (October 6, 1893 – April 14, 1964) was an American actor. Career Early in his career, Hodgins was active in stock theater, including working in the Ralph Cloninger troupe of Salt Lake City, Utah, and the Siegel Stock compan ...

and

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 ...

are unhappy when her engagement to Champneys aka Fancy Charlie is announced. Red meets Champneys at the Duchess’ ranch where he also meets Fancy Charlie’s confederate, Celeste ''(

Virginia Christine Virginia Christine (born Virginia Christine Ricketts; March 5, 1920 – July 24, 1996) was an American stage, radio, film, television, and voice actress. Though Christine had a long career as a character actress in film and television, she i ...

)'', who poses as a couturiere. The outlaws, Ace Hanlon ''(

William Haade William Haade (March 2, 1903 – November 15, 1966) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 250 films between 1937 and 1957. He was born in New York City and died in Los Angeles, California. Haade was a construction boss until ...

)'' and Pete Burdet ''(

Bud Geary Bud Geary (February 15, 1898 – February 22, 1946), was an American film actor. He appeared in 258 films between years 1920 and 1946. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and died in Hollywood, California, aged 48. Partial filmography ...

)'' appear suddenly at the ranch to greet Champneys. Champneys is surprised to see them because Burdet was once Fancy Charlie’s cellmate. Burdet has tipped off Ace Hanlon and now both of them want to be cut in on Fancy Charlie’s deal and share in the Duchess’ fortune. Charlie refuses, and Burdett starts beating on him when Red arrives and captures Burdett but misses Hanlon who flees in time to escape. Charlie asks Red to let Burdet go, explaining that he is merely an acquaintance who cheated him in a poker game. Red is reluctant to comply but does so when Charlie insists. Red remains concerned about his aunt but acquiesces to her demands but when he later sees Champneys mistreating Thunder ''(Red’s horse)'', Red intercedes and knocks him down. He decides to investigate and secretly wires the British consul for information about Champneys. Afraid that Red will ruin his plans, Charlie finally decides to offer Hanlon and Burdett a fifty-percent share of his profits if they get ride of Red and Little Beaver. Charlie then proceeds to inform the Duchess that he must return to England immediately and wants her to go with him so they can be married along the way. She agrees to go despite Red's strenuous objections. Charlie smiles, knowing that he has fully persuaded the Duchess to return to England with him and to bring her money with her. They agree to meet at the railroad station. In the meantime, Celeste overhears Red and Little Beaver talking about picking up the reply from the British consul. Hanlon and Burdett are notified and make preparation to capture the two at the telegraph office. Red and Little Beaver are held prisoner overnight and the next morning, Charlie taunts them by congratulating Red on seeing through his disguise and charade but then assures the red-headed cowboy that the Duchess will soon be dead. Ace Hanlon suspects that Fancy Charlie might double cross him and Burdet so instead of killing Red and Little Beaver, they plan to keep them alive until after the Duchess is killed. Fortunately, Red and Little Beaver cleverly escape and rush to stop Fancy Charlie and save the Duchess. They arrive just in time. Ace Hanlon, Burdet, and Fancy Charlie escape, feeling out of town on a stagecoach. Red leaps into the saddle and he and Thunder race after them. In what is arguably one of motion picture’s most exciting stagecoach chases, Red finally manages to shoo Burdett and overcomes Hanlon in a fight. Fancy Charlie is captured and his nefarious plot is exposed. He is on the way to jail, but not before the Duchess hits him square in the face with their wedding cake.

Cast

as Red Ryder *

as Little Beaver *

as The Duchess (Red's Aunt) *

as Talbot Wilberforce Champneys, aka Fancy Charlie *

as Ace Hanlon *

as Celeste *

as Henchman Pete Burdette *Henry Hall as Banker Jim * Fred Graham as Henchman Chuck *

Jack Kirk Jack Kirk (February 19, 1895 – September 13, 1948) was an American film actor from Missoula, Montana who had roles in over 300 films, mostly B-westerns, from 1926 and 1954. Selected filmography * ''The Stolen Ranch'' (1926) * ''Dames Ahoy!' ...

as Sheriff Jack Rockwell *

Jack Rockwell Jack Rockwell Trowbridge (October 6, 1890 – November 10, 1947) was an American film actor who was born in Mexico. He appeared in over 250 movies, mostly Westerns, between 1927 and 1947. Rockwell's older brother was character actor Charles ...

as Stage Driver Buck *Bob Burns as Townsman (uncredited) *

Neal Hart Neal Hart (April 7, 1879 – April 2, 1949) was an American actor and director of the silent era. Biography Hart was born in Staten Island, New York. Before he began working in films, he was a city marshal, cowboy, and stage driver. He wo ...

as Townsman (uncredited) *

as Duchess Suitor (uncredited) *

Rose Plumer Rose Plumer (January 19, 1876, California – March 3, 1955, Hollywood, California) was an American actress. She married actor Lincoln Plumer. Selected filmography * '' The Family Secret'' (1924) * '' Outside the Law'' (1930) * '' A House Divide ...

as Townswoman (uncredited) *Jack Tornek as Townsman (uncredited)

Production

''Phantom of the Plains'' (1945) was based on the characters created in

Fred Harman Fred Charles Harman II (February 9, 1902 - January 2, 1982) was an American cartoonist, best known for his popular ''Red Ryder'' comic strip, which he drew for 25 years, reaching 40 million readers through 750 newspapers. Harman sometimes used th ...

’s comic strip,

. The film premiered in Los Angeles on September 7, 1945. It was later re-released on August 4, 1949.''Phantom of the Plains (1945) Release Information'' IMDb
/ref>

Stunts

* Tom Steele *

Dale Van Sickel Dale Harris Van Sickel (November 29, 1907 – January 25, 1977) was an American college football, basketball and baseball player during the 1920s, who later became a Hollywood motion picture actor and stunt performer for over forty years. ...

*Henry Wills

References

External links

''Red Ryder'', The Old CorralPhantom of the Plains (1945), IMDbPhantom-of-the-Plains (1945), Turner Classic MoviesPhantom of the Plains ''(Red Ryder and Little Beaver)''
at

Amazon.com Amazon.com, Inc. ( ) is an American multinational technology company focusing on e-commerce, cloud computing, online advertising, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. It has been referred to as "one of the most influential economi ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Phantom of the Plains 1945 films 1945 Western (genre) films Films set in 1895 American black-and-white films Republic Pictures films American Western (genre) films Films based on American comics Films based on comic strips Films directed by Lesley Selander 1940s English-language films 1940s American films Red Ryder films