Steven Helmer Publications

Synopsis: When convicted robber Charley Gray is released from prison, Texas rangers Dave Wyatt and Panhandle Perkins team up with lawyer Tex Haines to find out where he hid $250,000 in stolen government money by having Panhandle go undercover and befriend the newly released criminal. However, things prove to be more complicated when Charley's partner, Steve, and his new gang plan a double cross. Who's in it? The movie stars Dave O'Brien , Tex Ritter , Guy Wilkerson , Kay Hughes, Charles King and Jack Ingram . Review: I was running behind again this morning (must be the fact it is staying dark later) and, because of that, had to find a shorter alternative to the movie I intended to watch. Since I have enjoyed Tex Ritter/Dave O'Brien films in the past, I chose Enemy of the Law and wasn't disappointed. What really won me over with this movie were the villains. As I've said in the past, films like this are only as good as their bad guy and this one had a solid ...

Synopsis: Single mother Sadie Martin runs a riverboat in Alaska as a way of funding her daughter, Helen's, education at a boarding school. In addition to being a place to drink and gamble, the boat is a vital mode of transportation for miners traveling to and from their claims. When Helen arrives unexpectedly, Sadie, not wanting her daughter to follow in her footsteps, feels compelled to sell her boat to mining executive John Thorne so the two women can return to civilization. However, she ends up sticking around when the empowered Thorne begins stealing her friends' mining claims and killing those who oppose him. Who's in it? The movie stars Irene Rich, Charles Bickford, June Carlson, Dave O'Brien , Melvin Lang and Tristram Coffin. Review: I was running a bit behind this morning again and with limited time to pick a movie to watch, I went with the first film that seemed remotely interesting. This ended up being Queen of the Yukon . Overall, it turned out to be a goo...

Synopsis: The East Side Kids, minus Muggs, accept a job at an aviation factory run by Algy's father, Mr. Reynolds. The factory has been under attack from spies, who nearly kill test pilot Tom Larson by sabotaging his plane. Muggs, who spends his day wandering around the airfield while waiting to drive his gang home, begins to suspect Dr. Richard Nagel, the owner of a new air ambulance, of being the mastermind. However, Nagel's stellar reputation and Muggs' not-so-stellar reputation result in his theory immediately being dismissed, forcing him to find proof. Who's in it? The movie stars Leo Gorcey , Bobby Jordan , Dave O'Brien , Joan Barclay , George Pembroke and Ernest Morrison . Review: I forgot to pick out a movie for this morning so, since it had been a while since I last watched an East Side Kids/Bowery Boys film, I figured I'd just do a quick search for one. Flying Wild was one of the first I came across and it looked interesting, so I gave it a try. A...

Synopsis: When Ken Mitchell arrives to claim a cattle ranch left to him by his late uncle, he discovers he is unwanted by the local farmers who hated his uncle because of unscrupulous business practices that have them about to lose their land. Believing his uncle was being forced to work for someone else and knowing the locals won't accept his word or charity, Mitchell infiltrates a gang led by the real villain, Collins. He then pretends to help Mitchell carry out his land-grab plan while simultaneously secretly sabotaging that plan as a masked vigilante called the Phantom Rancher. Who's in it? The movie stars Ken Maynard, Dorothy Short , Harry Harvey, Ted Adams, Dave O'Brien and Tarzan. Review: In what is making me sound a bit like a broken record, I woke up this morning planning to watch another movie but found myself unable to located it in my library and quickly called an audible to another film. This film ended up being Phantom Rancher . While I did have a few doub...

Synopsis: Theater critic Tony Woolrich is reviewing a play when an actor is murdered. Even though he is friends with the theater's owner, actor Cecil Moore, and the victim was Moore's brother, he is reluctant to investigate but does so after being chewed out by his editor. After a second murder is committed, the police believe an escape asylum inmate is to blame. However, Woolrich believes someone from Moore's past is targeting both the actor and his daughter, Claudia. Who's in it? The movie stars Dave O'Brien , Kay Aldridge, Alan Mowbray, Frank Jenks and Jack Mulhall. Review: I am gaining a whole new appreciation for just how busy actor Dave O'Brien was in the 1940s. It seems as though I can't scroll through my movie library without coming across a film he's in. This includes The Phantom of 42nd Street , which I decided to finally watch this morning. It ended up being a good choice. The movie's mystery is an interesting one. While Woolrich's (...

Synopsis: Three Texas Rangers, Tex, Jim and Panhandle, are hunting a gang of outlaws known as the Devils Brand Gang because of a devil-related calling card they leave behind at their crimes. They are able to track down the gang and their leader, Jack Varno, thanks to a letter from Molly Dawson, whose uncle was killed by Varno's men and is now struggling to keep her ranch because of their rustling.  Needing evidence, Panhandle manages to infiltrate the gang. However, Varno isn't fooled long and their lives, along with Molly's life, are soon in danger. Who's in it? The movie stars Dave O'Brien , James Newill, Guy Wilkerson , Ellen Hall and I. Stanford Jolley . Review: I was undecided about what movie to watch this morning, so I just went through my library and picked the first movie that caught my eye. That ended up being Brand of the Devil. Overall, I would put this in the same category most classic westerns end up in - entertaining but nothing that is necessaril...

Synopsis: Shirley Martin and her father run a cattle ranch that, along with others in the valley, is in danger of drying up after a mining company owned by Robert Weylan dams and redirects the only source of water in an elaborate scheme to buy the land at a reduced cost. After her father is killed by Weylan's men, Shirley attempts to fight him in court and, when that fails, works to find another solution that won't result in people being hurt or killed. Who's in it? The movie stars Dorothy Page, Dave O'Brien , Stanley Price, Vince Barnett and Warner Richmond. Review: I was undecided about which movie to watch this morning and ended up picking Water Rustlers because it was one of the first that popped up on my list and a class western starring a "singing cowgirl" seemed somewhat unique. After seeing the movie, my opinion of it is mostly positive. I will admit, I wasn't expecting all that much from Shirley Martin (Page), based mostly on when the movie w...

Synopsis: After the Eastside Kids convince Mr. Wilkes to provide the race entry fee for a thoroughbred, Bluenight, Muggs Mahoney uses the opportunity to pursue his dream of being a jockey. He, however, soon learns it is more difficult than he imagined and a chance to redeem himself is put at risk by a crooked bookie tries to sabotage Bluenight. Who's in it? The movie stars Bobby Jordan , Leo Gorcey , Clarence Muse , Dave O'Brien , Milton Kibbee, Joyce Bryant . Review: It had been a few weeks since I last watched an Eastside Kids/Bowery Boys movie, so I figured I'd add one to my list and after searching, chose That Gang of Mine  primarily because the idea of Muggs Mahoney (Gorcey) riding a horse seemed interesting. I watched it this morning and it proved to be an OK choice. There were a couple things I liked about this movie. One of the main ones was the journey Muggs needed to take to be a jockey. The movie acknowledged a kid from New York probably wouldn't know anyt...

Synopsis: Tex Haines, Dave Wyatt and Panhandle Perkins investigate the murder of a Native American and a fur trader who was likely killed by a local gang of outlaws for a stash of furs he had hidden away. Their investigation is hindered by a fake Indian agent who is part of the gang and tries to have Tex and Dave arrested for the murders. Who's in it? The movie stars Tex Ritter , Dave O'Brien , Guy Wilkerson , Lorraine Miller and Jack Ingram. Review: It had been a while since I last watched a singing cowboy movie so, while waiting for my daughter to get done with her theater rehearsal last night, I ended up selecting Frontier Fugitives for my morning movie. Overall, while nothing I would describe as particularly unique or special, it turned out to be a good choice. As far as the plot was concerned, it was fairly basic and cliché. You had clear good guys and bad guys, a motive (wanting to steal furs) that made sense for the setting, an attractive frontier woman (Miller) who ...

Synopsis: Mugs, Danny and the rest of the East Side Kids come to the rescue when they hear Sylvia crying for help because her abusive stepfather, Morley, is forcibly trying to force her to run away with him. Morley is left unconscious by the gang but is murdered by a crime boss, McGaffey, a short time later. When Danny is arrested for the crime, McGaffey uses evidence from the scene as a way to blackmail Mugs into helping him with a burglary.  Who's in it? The movie stars Leo Gorcey , Bobby Jordan , Huntz Hall , Mark Lawrence, Dave O'Brien and Ann Gillis. Review: I have had 'Neath Brooklyn Bridge in my library for a few months because every time I planned to watch it, I ended up choosing something else instead. I finally did the opposite this morning, changing my mind about another film and selecting this movie as the alternative. Overall, it was an OK choice. While I would consider the majority of this movie a drama, there was a nice mix of comedy throughout to keep i...

Synopsis: When Knuckles Dolan is placed on death row for a murder he did not commit simply because he refuses to name names, Det. Pat O'Day forms an athletic club so Knuckles' younger brother, Danny, and Danny's friends can get off the street and not turn to a life of crime too. His efforts are sabotaged when a local counterfeiting ring run by Milton Franklin "Mileaway" Harris tricks the boys into helping him and O'Day is framed as being the person behind it. Who's in it? The movie stars Leon Ames , Dennis Moore, Dave O'Brien , Joyce Bryant, Harris Berger and Jim Farley. Review: When it comes to a movie series, I naturally try to watch the films in order. However, with older movies, that's not always as easy to do as it sounds because of availability. That's why, after watching quite a few East Side Kids/Bowery Boys films, I just now had the opportunity to watch the movie that started them all, East Side Kids .  The film turned out to be wor...

Synopsis: After Danny, Muggs and the rest of the East Side Kids once again get in trouble with the police, they are given a choice - reform school or summer camp. They choose the latter and are put under the supervision of Danny's brother and ex-criminal, Knuckles. While traveling, a pair of car troubles result in them running into Judge Malcolm Parker and his niece, Louise, and an invitation to stay with them to stay in a creepy manor owned by his deceased wife's family. When the judge is murdered and Louise goes missing, the boys know Knuckles will be the one blamed and conduct an investigation to find the real culprit. Who's in it? The movie stars Bobby Jordan , Leo Gorcey , Dave O'Brien , Inna Gest, Ernest Morrison and Forrest Taylor. Review: It had been a few weeks since I last watched an East Side Kids/Bowery Boys movie and, when I came across Boys in the City last night, I decided to add it to my list and watch it this morning. As is often the case with films...

Synopsis: The Heath and Morton families have become incredibly wealthy selling cosmetics based on formulas created by Dr. Paul Carruthers. Curruthers, however, received only $10,000 for his formula and now holds a grudge. When the families add insult to injury by trying to surprise him with a $5000 bonus, Carruthers decides to get revenge by using his latest "perfume" to attract genetically enlarged bats to his intended victims. Who's in it? The movie stars Bela Lugosi , Suzanne Kaaren, Dave O'Brien , Guy Usher and Donald Kerr. Review: I have attempted to watch The Devil Bat on a couple different occasions but because of interruptions, only managed to get through the first ten minutes or so of the film. I finally had an opportunity to watch the entire movie this morning and after doing so, think it is arguably Bela Lugosi's best non-Dracula film. The plot is a bit farfetched and the idea of growing giant killer bats in a home laboratory is a little on the unbel...

Synopsis: After discovering an uncanny resemblance to wanted outlaw Steve Carson, Texas Ranger Dave Wyatt poses as Carson in the hopes of catching a gang that has been breaking men out of jail only to kill them for the reward money. The ruse works as planned and Dave soon finds his life in danger with only fellow ranger Panhandle Perkins and attorney Tex Haines available to help him. Who's in it? The movie stars Tex Ritter , Dave O'Brien , Guy Wilkerson , Patricia Knox and Charles King. Review: I've had Flaming Bullets in my library for several weeks and finally decided to watch it this morning, mostly because it was only about an hour long and I was running a bit behind. The film was about what I expected it to be, nothing overly special but still entertaining. The premise was an intriguing one. On one hand, the gang of outlaws, led by Sid Tolliver (I. Stanford Jolley) were killing other outlaws rather than innocent people. However, since they were crossing a line by pr...