''The Lawless Rider'' is a 1954 American black-and-white

western film The Western is a genre set in the American frontier and commonly associated with folk tales of the Western United States, particularly the Southwestern United States, as well as Northern Mexico and Western Canada. It is commonly referred ...

directed by

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 ...

and starring

Johnny Carpenter Johnny Carpenter (Jasper Carpenter; June 25, 1914 – February 27, 2003) was an American film actor, screenwriter and producer. He was known mostly for his work in Westerns and for his association with filmmaker Ed Wood. He used the stage nam ...

Frankie Darro Frankie Darro (born Frank Johnson, Jr.; December 22, 1917 – December 25, 1976) was an American actor and later in his career a stuntman. He began his career as a child actor in silent films, progressed to lead roles and co-starring roles ...

and

Noel Neill Noel Darleen Neill (November 25, 1920 – July 3, 2016) was an American actress. She played Lois Lane in the film serials ''Superman'' (1948) and '' Atom Man vs. Superman'' (1950), as well as the 1950s television series '' Adventures of Superman ...

, and marketed by United Artists.

Ed Wood Edward Davis Wood Jr. (October 10, 1924 – December 10, 1978) was an American filmmaker, actor, and pulp novel author. In the 1950s, Wood directed several low-budget science fiction, crime and horror films that later became cult cla ...

helped co-write the screenplay, which was originally to be titled ''The Outlaw Marshall''. The film was shot in 1952 but was not released until July 1954 due to cost overruns and legal difficulties.Rudolph Grey, Nightmare of Ecstasy: The Life and Art of Edward D. Wood, Jr. (1992). ISBN 978-0-922915-24-8.

Plot

The Bascom Ranch, owned by Texas Rose Bascom, is targeted by an outlaw gang with the intent to steal cattle off the ranch. Outlaw Freno Frost runs the rustling gang. One of the gang members is Jim Bascom, Texas Rose Bascom's wayward brother. When she discovers that her brother is running with the outlaws, she seeks help from the law. Sheriff Brown is unable or unwilling to help, so Texas Rose asks her boyfriend, U.S. Marshall Johnny Carpenter, to come to her aid. Johnny Carpenter shows up in town, in disguise, and impersonates the gunslinger Rod Tatum in order to infiltrate the outlaw gang. Texas Rose Bascom performs her fancy trick roping act for the townfolk, but ruffians interrupt the event. Confusion follows when the real Rod Tatum and the impersonator meet on the street.

Cast

as Johnny Carpenter and Rod Tatum * Earl W. Bascom (a co-producer) as an outlaw *

as Nancy James *Texas Rose Bascom as Texas Rose Bascom *Frankie Darro as Jim Bascom *Kenne Duncan as Freno Frost *Dale Barrell as The Kid *Douglass Dumbrille as Marshall Brady *

Bud Osborne Leonard Miles "Bud" Osborne (July 20, 1884 – February 2, 1964) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 600 films and television programs between 1912 and 1963. Biography Osborne was born Miles Osborne in Knox County, Texas ...

as Tulsa *Weldon Bascom as Sheriff Brown *Shirley Belger as Sis *Bob Burns as a rancher of the Saddle Kings Band *Roy Canada as Andy * Tap Canutt as Young Marshall *Frank "Red" Carpenter as Big Red *Fred Carson as Snake Eyes *Bill Chaney as Bill * Bill Coontz as Red Rock *Johnny Dew as Carson *Hank Caldwell as leader *Leonard P. Geer as Jack *Ray Morgan as Scar *Blackie Pickerel as Raven *Lou Roberson as Black Jack Ketchum *Frank Robbins as Larrabie *Lennie Smith as Lennie *Ted Smith as Ted *Tommy Thomas as a blacksmith

Sound track

* "Thinking of You", sung by Texas Rose Bascom

Stunts

* Weldon Bascom * Tap Canutt * Yakima Canutt, director * Frank "Red" Carpenter * Fred Carson * Bill Coontz

Other credits and crew members

* Rudy DeSaxe, music * William C. Thompson, director of cinematography * Carlo Lodato, film editing * Micky Meyers, costume design * Bud Sweeney, makeup artist * Willard Kirkham, assistant director * Glen Glenn, sound * Fred Grossi, still photography * John C. Fuller, editor * George N. Brown, transportation * Winifred Gibson, script supervisor * Sam Tilden, public relations

Producers

*Alex Gordon, executive producer *Johnny Carpenter, producer *Edward D. Wood Jr., producer *Weldon Bascom, associate producer

Production history

The film was financed by a group of Mormons. The original budget was $20,000 but it went over budget. There were legal troubles which meant the film took two years to be released. Producer

Alex Gordon Alexander Jonathan Gordon (born February 10, 1984) is an American former professional baseball left fielder who played his entire career for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2007 to 2020. Prior to playing professio ...

became entangled in debt over the film's cost overruns and got Samuel Z. Arkoff involved in the negotiations to get the film released. Arkoff got Gordon out of the financial mess he was in and got the film released eventually through United Artists. Gordon would go on to make several other movies with Arkoff. Gordon's friend/ roommate

worked on the movie's screenplay with the film's star Johnny Carpenter.Mark McGee, ''Fster and Furioun, anser: The Revised and Fattened Fable of American International Pictures'', McFarland, 1996 p1aTom Weaver, ''Earth Vs. the Sci-fi Filmmakers: 20 Interviews'' McFarland, 2005 p 115

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lawless Rider 1954 films 1954 Western (genre) films American Western (genre) films American black-and-white films Films directed by Yakima Canutt United Artists films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films