Tonight's Durango Kid movie was called "Streets Of Ghost Town" (1950). As it begins, "Steve" (with yet another different surname) is arriving in a deserted town called Shadeville, with Smiley Burnette and the town sheriff in tow. The sheriff is explaining why Shadeville has become a ghost town : it's residents have all run off because a gang of outlaws who formerly controlled the area have been rumored to return, to take the land back. The outlaws once used the territory as a hideout. No other folks lived within miles of them, until the US Government offered free land there for homesteaders. After a land rush (literally a race to stake out a claim), the entire area, formerly empty save for the bad guys, was now fully populated.
The gang had used their hideout for years to rob folks who passed through on their way to other towns and cities. In doing so, they amassed a huge stash of money, jewelry and other valuables worth over a million dollars, which in 1880 was a very large sum.
The gang had to bail out when the land was settled. They took their stolen loot with them and have stashed it in an abandoned mine that they are sure no one knows about. But one of the gang gets greedy. He locks his partners in the mine and makes off with the treasure by himself.
Back in Shadeville, the Ghost Town, Smiley Burnette is playing with a Ouija Board, hoping the Spirits will reveal to him the location of the stolen money. Night falls, and as he and Steve try to get some sleep, a real live ghost is seen creeping down the empty street. It is one of the former bandits, long thought to be dead. The hunt is on now to verify the reality of the ghost, and to locate the the hidden loot. Smiley is scared silly, but still manages to sing a couple of songs, backed this time by Ozie Waters and The Colorado Rangers. I must say, even though it is not my main type of music, boy can these cowboy singers harmonise. And play, too. All of the bands and singers seen in the Durango films thus far have been top notch musicians. Smiley himself is said on his IMDB to have had the ability to play any instrument.
"Streets Of Ghost Town" does not have the same development of story as the other "Kid" movies we have seen this week. The plot is largely told in flashback by Steve, after the trio have settled into the ghost town for the night at the beginning of the film. And there is liberal usage of stock footage from other Westerns where chase scenes are concerned, including a major league Cattle Stampede, which does boost the value somewhat, I must say.
Maybe they should start putting Cattle Stampedes into all kinds of other movies. Whattaya think?
A Stampede in the middle of a romance? A tragedy? A crime caper? How about a Marvel Comic flick? How would one of today's computer generated superheros deal with a real time cattle stampede?
How about a whimsical independent Euro Flick, the kind that plays at a Laemmle Theater. What if the story of an quirky ethnic family was playing out, with all kinds of goofy in-laws in comedic conflict with one another, or even in a serious Swedish film..........what would happen if all of a sudden a Cattle Stampede ran though the picture?
I am just pondering the possibilities, which seem at first glance to be endless.
Anyhow, two regular thumbs up for "Streets Of Ghost Town". Not as involving as the other Durango Kid movies we have seen this week, but entertaining for the Ouija Board sequences and as always, Smiley Burnette and his music routines. /////
Starting tomorrow night, we may have some new movies arrived from Northridge Libe, and if they do arrive, they will be of a higher dramatic value, shall we say.
We had yet more rain today, and it seems as though this cold, grey weather pattern is endless.
Thank goodness for books, and study.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo :):)
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