Too many fans seem to be blown away

The Worst Film Ever

Really Surprised!

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Young Tim Holt certainly kept busy in 1941. He appeared in no less than eight movies, including an uncredited role in a short, Know for Sure. Here has he has the starring role in a competent enough "B" western in which he seems content to allow the other players to steal most of his scenes, particularly garrulous Ray Whitley and even reluctant heroine, Betty Jane Rhodes. Actually, it's the villain – a doctor-turned-bad-guy and a real mean one – played by Robert Fiske who dominates the movie. The action scenes are lively enough, but nothing special, although locations are well utilized by director Edward Killy, who spent most of his career as an assistant director, both before and after his stint in the main job. This entry is available on an excellent Warner Archive DVD.

Taking a cue from the successful Three Mesquiteers series at Republic Pictures, RKO teamed their cowboy B picture star Tim Holt with two sidekicks, singing and guitar strumming Ray Whitely and in the cussed old timer role Emmett Lynn.The man the trio works for is kidnapped and held for ransom and the trio are forced into robbing a bank for the ransom money. They're too late with it and the man is killed by outlaw leader Robert Fiske.But a peculiar chain of events allow Holt, Lynn, and Whitley to infiltrate Fiske's gang. The three act like a fifth column to bring in the outlaw gang.Fiske is a particularly vicious villain who's not a fool by any means. Can't say as much for his outlaw gang, but I guess he just couldn't get good help.Emmett Lynn's character is named 'Whopper' for the tall tales he'll spin at the drop of a hat and at the wrong time. He's funny, but he does get on Holt's nerves a bit. But in the end he does pull off a really neat trick to capture the whole band.Along The Rio Grande is a nicely paced B western as Tim Holt westerns always were. Holt was one of the better B cowboy heroes and this film is typical of what RKO cast him in before his World War II service.

When TCM aired this in September, 2010, it was one of several Tim Holt films for the day.I can admire Tim Holt, and recognize his talent, but, to be honest, his westerns were often slow, even lame."Along the Rio Grande" was nothing special, except for an excellent cast, some good dialog, and pretty good directing, and two very good singers, although of different styles, Ray Whitely and Betty Jane Rhodes, who seems to have had a short film career.As is so often the case, the "humor" is not very funny, although Emmett Lynn did his best with the material.Outstanding, and with one of the best roles of his career, is Slim Whitaker. In fact, this is such a good part for him that to see him is reason enough to watch this movie, especially for western fans.

I was left scratching my head early in the story when the buddy trio of Tim Holt, Ray Whitley and Emmett Lynn deposit twelve thousand dollars for their boss in the Sweet Water bank. A note signed by Pop Edwards requesting they bring it back is delivered by a young boy, but since the banker smells a rat he refuses to return the money, whereupon the boys take it back forcibly. This sets up a ruckus with banker Turner yelling the bank's been robbed and demanding that the men are jailed. The sheriff pretty much takes the boys' side, but jails them anyway to play it safe.Oh well, I guess it doesn't have to make much sense. These early oaters were put together quick and cheap, and sometimes in just one take. Throw in a pretty female (Betty Jane Rhodes) for a romantic interest and you were just about home free as the good guys save the day from the evil town boss. That's pretty much the story here. Tim Holt as the lead hero actually doesn't seem to have a lot to do, leaving the memorable moments to his sidekicks. Ray Whitley sings and yodels through a couple of tunes, while Emmett Lynn tells tall tales in the interest of promoting his own self importance. Keeping an eye out for those subtle bits that add some color to these old time Westerns, I got a kick out of signs in the local saloon promoting Old Mule Whisky and Red Rock Gin for ten cents, and Dead Man's Delight Lager Beer, a bargain at just a nickel!Tim Holt appeared in some of the coolest sounding Western titles of the '40's and '50's, with names like "Thunder Mountain", "Under The Tonto Rim", and "Wild Horse Mesa". "Along The Rio Grande" is one of his earliest, and it shows in his youthful good looks and smiling face. Not the worst way to while away an hour of your time, as long as you're not expecting "High Noon" or "Shane".