Phantom Thunderbolt (1933)

Fantastic!

I was totally surprised at how great this film.You could feel your paranoia rise as the film went on and as you gradually learned the details of the real situation.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

Ken Maynard (Thunderbolt), Frances Lee (Judy Lane), Frank Rice (Nevady), Harry Holman (Wingate), William Gould (Red Matthews), Bob Kortman (One-Shot), Wilfred Lucas (President Eaton), William Robyns (Wingate's partner), Frank Beal (Tobias Oldham), Nelson McDowell (McTavish), Stanley Blystone (Flash), Arthur Hoyt (Eaton's secretary), Gus Leonard (Old Joe), Robert McKenzie (bartender), Kermit Maynard, William McCall, Murdock MacQuarrie, Harry Todd, Horace B. Carpenter, Silver Tip Baker (townsmen), Ralph Bucko, Roy Bucko, Jim Mason, Bud McClure, Lew Meehan, Merrill McCormick, Blackjack Ward, Robert Walker, Jack Rockwell, Bill Patton (henchmen), Archie Ricks (stage driver), Tom Smith, Jess Cavin, Charles Murphy (barflies), Frank Ellis (cowboy). Johnny Luther (outlaw).Director: ALVIN J. NIETZ. Screenplay: Alvin J. Nietz. Story: Betty Burbridge, Forrest Sheldon. Photography: Jackson Rose. Film editor: Dave Berg. Art director: Ralph M. DeLacy. Production supervisor: Irving Starr. Assistant director: Mike Eason. Sound recording: Hans Weeren. Producers: Burt Kelly, Sam Bischoff, William Saal. Copyright 5 March 1933 by K.B.S. Productions, Inc. Presented by E. W. Hammons and released through World Wide Pictures. Physical distribution through Fox. U.S. release: 25 March 1933. No recorded New York opening. U.K. release: 24 February 1934. 62 minutes. SYNOPSIS: An eager cowboy agrees to rid a small western town of all its troublemakers in exchange for three kisses from the pretty proprietress of the local restaurant.COMMENT: Another most entertaining outing for Ken Maynard's legion of fans (of which I'm one), this entry finds our plucky hero enmeshed in a cleverly realized series of scrapes, both serious and comic. Abetting Ken in these endeavors is a fine support cast, led by the lovely Frances Lee as the reluctant heroine, Frank Rice as the tale- spinning sidekick, Harry Holman as the inspired banker and Bob Kortman (in a sizable role for once) as the ruffianly One-Shot. Production values are extremely high with lots of extras milling around the back-lot of the California Tiffany Studios. Director Alan James (or Alvin J. Nietz as he was sometimes billed) takes full advantage of the producers' largess. I love the almost epic scene where the band and citizenry welcome the railroad president with all colors flying. Keen-eyed aficionados will note Kermit Maynard doubling for his brother in a few overhead shots of the destructive fight between Ken and Bob in Miss Lee's eatery.

"Phantom Thunderbolt" is a tongue-in-cheek, town tamer, B-western that slings more laughs than lead. Ken Maynard stars as the Thunderbolt Kid, and he wears a white, ten-gallon Stetson that looks bigger than anybody else's headgear. Although it is a low-budget oater, director Alan James and scenarists Forrest Sheldon and Betty Burbridge skewer western conventions with a straight face. Initially, "Phantom Thunderbolt" looks like another standard issue, costume-clad cowboy epic. Maynard wears a fancy rodeo outfit and rides a smart Palomino stallion. Everything you'd expect to find in a vintage B-movie is intact in "Phantom Thunderbolt." You've got a tall, square-jawed hero who shuns tobacco products. When we see him for the first time, he admits he is broke. The Thunderbolt Kid's miraculous use of firearms prompts the city fathers to approach him. "We want to hire your guns." "My guns," Thunderbolt chuckles, "You see if I hired out to you as a professional gunman and took money for my services; it might interfere with my standing as an amateur." Mind you, if this isn't a sacred western tradition branded for the cliché that it is, then I must be reading too much into this sardonic little oater.Of course, "Phantom Thunderbolt" has a virtuous heroine who owns the Little Gem Restaurant. The hero rides into a town at the mercy of the dastardly Red Matthews (William Gould) who runs out every lawman that Coyote Gulch hires. The town fathers are so greedy that they have assured Railroad President Eaton (Wilfred Lucas) that they have cleaned out Mathews. In other words, they have told a tall tale. They want Thunderbolt to deal with Red so their town can convince Eaton to put its line through Coyote Gulch. The future of Coyote Gulch hangs in the balance. The hero agrees as long as he can get three kisses from Judy Lane. Can you smell romance in the air? Nothing in the way of mean-spirited violence occurs in this horse opera. The first half surpasses the second half. The comedy is well-done, especially after the hero demolishes the restaurant."Phantom Thunderbolt" opens with Nevady (Frank Rice of "Charlie Chan's Courage") riding into Coyote Gulch to warn the townspeople that the Thunderbolt Kid is due in town soon. When the citizens ask about the Thunderbolt Kid, Nevady regales them with tall tales about him that rival Paul Bunyan. According to Nevady's outlandish claims, four graveyards have been named after the Thunderbolt Kid. Nevady calls him "the orneriest wolf who ever howled" and "he is the fastest lead-slinger who ever drew a six-gun." One lady complains, "Oh, I just knew something would happen to spoil my day in town." Nevady gulps a drink and continues: "And undertakers, why they go plum loco whenever he's announced. He's their best business getter." The townspeople disperse with news of Thunderbolt's impending arrival. "And I'm warning you, he's the most dangerous when he is smiling, that is a sure sign he is riled." Of course, some folks don't believe Nevady. The prime disbeliever is Red Mathews. "Let me tell you something else," Nevady claps a frail, bespectacled customer named Old Joe on the back, "whenever he comes and slaps you on the back and calls you partner, then your goose is cooked. You're just as good as planted." No sooner has Old Joe scrambled out of the saloon for the hills than Thunderbolt Kid comes galloping into Coyote Gulch with both six-shooters blazing. The Kid spots Old Joe and Joe faints as if he were dead. The Undertaker grins with relish because he has a new customer, but Thunderbolt takes him over to a restaurant. The Kid believes the old-timer is starved to death. When he recovers from the fright of meeting the Kid, Old Joe escapes. The lady who runs the restaurant, Judy Lane (Frances Lee of "These Thirty Years"), refuses to serve Thunderbolt and utters several uncomplimentary things about him. Another mean-looking hombre rides into town. He is 'One-Shot' Mallory (Bob Kortman) and he refuses to leave after Miss Judy tells him to leave. Thunderbolt and 'One-Shot' smash up the restaurant before Thunderbolt gets 'One-Shot" off the premises.The timid Coyote Gulch townspeople want Thunderbolt Kid as their sheriff. "Coyote Gulch is about to be wiped off the map," the banker claims. "Everything we have, everything we've struggled for, we stand to lose." They are competing with another town to get the railroad to lay its rails through town and heighten their prosperity. Thunderbolt strikes a deal with the town fathers. He will handle Red's gang in exchange for three kisses from Judy. Initially, he takes Red's gang into custody with an old trick. He asks Red to join him in a back room about a matter of personal concern. When Red enters the room, Nevady is there to club Red unconscious. Thunderbolt pulls the same stunt on the entire gang. He rounds them up without firing a shot. Later, 'One-Shot' tells Thunderbolt that some of Red's gang plan to sneak past him into Coyote Gulch. As it turns out, 'One-Shot' plays a prank on our hero. The guys on the stagecoach are the President of the railway company and his assistant. Thunderbolt makes good on his earlier promise to Red's gunmen. He swore that he would strip them down to their underwear and he strips these two down to their drawers. Later, Thunderbolt is lassoed out of his saddle, tied up, and held at the outlaw's camp. Availing himself of his super-smart horse Tarzan, Thunderbolt has his horse chew through his ropes. Afterward, he climbs into a barrel to escape and has Tarzan roll him down the hill. Red Matthews and his gang return to Coyote Gulch with 'One-Eye." Thunderbolt arrives as the fight begins. It seems that the railroad president has decided to run his rails through town because the competition was so thick. "Phantom Thunderbolt" degenerates into just another town-tamer after a promising start.

By the time it's all over, the story of the "Phantom Thunderbolt" winds up being pretty lame, but it's about as much fun as you can have with a turn of the talkie era Western. Ken Maynard provides the thrills as the Thunderbolt Kid, arriving in the town of Coyote Gulch right after partner Nevady (Frank Rice) heralds his arrival with six guns blazing. Thunderbolt is quick to deliver, cleaning up Miss Judy's restaurant with the carcass of One Shot Mallory (Bob Kortman). Unfortunately, their mix up features an old style unrealistic fist fight marked by wild swings and push punches, but still good for a dunk in the town horse trough.At least town undertaker McTavish sees an opportunity for business with T-Bolt in town. Check out the sign in his shop window - "Our Customers Never Complain".With a quick gun and quick fists, the town fathers look to hire Thunderbolt to rid Coyote Gulch of bad man Red Matthews (William Gould) before the railroad president gets to town. They're in competition with nearby Spotted Horse for a railroad depot, and that town has hired the Matthews gang to insure that Coyote Gulch doesn't get picked. The Kid agrees to the take the job for three kisses on the installment plan from pretty Miss Judy (Frances Lee).Pay attention when Maynard's horse 'Tarzan' is instructed to nudge the barrel downhill with him inside. The closed end of the barrel is facing One Shot Mallory and another henchman at the start of the run, but the next shot shows the open end going down hill with Maynard visible.Another head scratcher occurs when the bank president begins to award the railroad contract to Coyote Gulch because it looks like a lawful town. Just then Red's gang hits town with guns roaring, but instead of changing his mind, Eaton (Wilfred Lucas) joins in the fisticuffs himself, proclaiming it's the most fun he's had since he's been there! Obviously story continuity wasn't uppermost in the minds of the film makers.For his part, the Thunderbolt Kid remains undecided about sticking around until Miss Judy plants a big one on the Kid's smacker. With that, he agrees to stay in Coyote Gulch, but by then he must have been as confused as bank man Eaton - he never got his third kiss!

I believe in comparing apples to apples, and not to oranges. So with that in mind, I want to point out that I am a fan of old westerns, including old "B" westerns, of which Phantom Thunderbolt is one. So my comments and this grade are made in comparison with other low-budget "B" westerns of the early 1930s, and not compared to what we all expect in a contemporary movie.This movie is absolutely awful. It has to be the worst film of its kind that I've ever seen, and I've seen quite a few. An average grade school student could write a more intelligent script. The acting of the entire cast is atrocious. Even that of the star, Ken Maynard. About all that can be said for him is that he can ride a horse pretty well. Clearly the director had absolutely no sense of how to entice a believable performance from any of the actors.Don't waste your time. There are many more old "B" westerns available in the public domain that are much more worthy.