''Racketeers of the Range'' is a 1939 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 D. Ross Lederman from a screenplay by Oliver Drake, based on

Bernard McConville Lee Bernard McConville (October 16, 1887 – December 27, 1961) was an American screenwriter. He wrote for more than 90 films between 1915 and 1946. He was born in Denver, Colorado and died in Los Angeles County, California. Partial filmog ...

's story. Produced and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures, the film was released on May 26, 1939. and stars George O'Brien,

Chill Wills Theodore Childress "Chill" Wills (July 18, 1902 – December 15, 1978) was an American actor and a singer in the Avalon Boys quartet. Early life Wills was born in Seagoville, Texas, on July 18, 1902. Career Wills was a performer from early c ...

, and

Marjorie Reynolds Marjorie Reynolds ( Goodspeed; August 12, 1917 – February 1, 1997) was an American film and television actress who appeared in more than 50 films, including the 1942 musical ''Holiday Inn'', in which she and Bing Crosby introduced the song " ...

Plot

Helen Lewis has inherited her father's small, independent meat packing plant; however, her attorney, Roger Whitlock, plans to sell her out to a large packing company. Barney O'Dell, the area's largest cattle ranch owner, knows if Helen is forced to sell her business, the larger company will have a monopoly and the cattle ranchers won't be able to freely market their beef. As chief creditor, Barney takes control of Helen's plant and all the local ranchers combine their livestock for Barney to ship. However, Whitlock and his gang rustle the herd. Barney and his cowhands intervene and retrieve the cattle, now piled into cattle trucks. After the cattle are transferred onto a train for shipment, Whitlock and his gang steal the train. Barney gives pursuit, boards the train, throws the rustlers off one by one during a gunfight, and subdues Whitlock who is holding Helen in the caboose. Barney frees Helen and the two sit together on the back of the caboose landing.

Cast

* George O'Brien as Barney O'Dell *

as Whopper Hatch *

as Helen Lewis *

Gay Seabrook Gay Seabrook (born Gladys Johnson; April 1, 1901 – April 18, 1970) was an American film, Broadway and radio actress. Early years Seabrook was the daughter of Rufus Johnson, a newspaper circulation manager. She married screenwriter Edward Ev ...

as Penny Jones * Robert Fiske as Roger Whitlock *

John Dilson John Henry Dilson"United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V4DH-2CG : Sat Feb 24 02:28:50 UTC 2024), Entry for John Henry Dilson, 1942.Library of Congress (1929). Catal ...

as William J. Benson *

Monte Montague Walter Harry "Monte" MontagueKatchmer, George A. (2002). A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses'. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 264. ."United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940", ...

as Joe Larkin *

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 Hank *

Ben Corbett Ben Corbett (February 6, 1892 – May 19, 1961) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 280 films between 1915 and 1956. He was born in Hudson, Illinois and died in Hollywood, California. Corbett was a trophy-winning rodeo part ...

as Dutch * Ray Whitley as Ray Whitley * Cactus Mack as Flash Gilbert * Frankie Marvin as Skeeter Potts

References

External links

* 1939 films American Western (genre) films 1939 Western (genre) films RKO Pictures films Films directed by D. Ross Lederman 1930s English-language films American black-and-white films Films produced by Bert Gilroy 1930s American films English-language Western (genre) films {{1930s-Western-film-stub