Main Cast: Charles Starrett, Smiley Burnette, Fred Sears, Tommy Ivo
Release Year: 1949
Country: US
Run Time: 55 minutes
Plot
Heavily trimmed prior to release, this entry in the Charles Starrett "Durango Kid" Western series for Columbia includes leading man Starrett dressed up as John Wayne's stunt double Yakima Canutt in order to match an entire sequence of stock footage lifted from the classic Stagecoach (1939). Starrett plays his usual double-role as Steve (surname Holden this time around) and the Durango Kid, working desperately to prove that gun-runner Cronin (Robert J. Wilke) killed Chief Eagle (Chief Shooting Star) in order to exploit an Indian war. To flush out Cronin and his cronies, Steve gets help from shoe repairman Smiley Burnette and the fort commandant's young son (Tommy Ivo). Yodeling specialist Elton Britt performs his own "Chime Bells" and William Shakespeare Hays' "Mollie Darlin" while Smiley Burnette takes care of Who Don't?" and "The Happy Cobbler), both self-composed. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
Review
The longest-running series in B-Western history, the Charles Starrett) oaters from Columbia were showing a bit of strain by 1949 and Laramie remains a patch-up job. But as such, it isn't half bad and the Indian raid lifted almost intact from Stagecoach (1939) is seamlessly inserted and adds much needed production value to what essentially is a poverty row western. The elimination of the standard romantic angle -- leading lady Marjorie Stapp ended up on the cutting-room floor -- makes a refreshing change and the comedy relief by Smiley Burnette and Irish-accented George Lloyd is cleverly worked into the general plot. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
Charles Clague - Art Director, Ray Nazarro - Director, Paul Borofsky - Editor, Rex Wimpy - Cinematographer, Colbert Clark - Producer, Barry Shipman - Screenwriter
