just watch it!

Good start, but then it gets ruined

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

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.

When the Thunderbolt Kid (Ken Maynard) arrives in town, his friend runs all over talking about what a tough and evil man Thunderbolt is. As a result, everyone is scared to death of him--even though he's really a nice guy. But the town fathers are impressed enough with his tough-guy image that they offer him a job to clean up the town. It seems another nearby town is vying for the railroad to come through their city instead--and they sent a gang of roughnecks to this little town to stir up trouble to scare away the railroad. At first, Thunderbolt has a pretty easy time of it--and is thrilled to do it because he's met a cute lady there. But in the end, it looks like all is lost and the town is without hope.This is a pretty average B-western. While it's not at all exceptional in its production quality, at least the script is mildly funny and it is different. So, even if it isn't particularly great and Maynard has all the personality of soggy asparagus, it is easy to like in spite of its deficiencies.

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!

In a town where people like to signal their arrival by shooting their guns high high up in the air! Comes a stranger who warns of the mean mean man heading up this way by the name of 'Phantom Thunderbolt'. The townspeople are predictably alarmed (except for of course, the undertaker, who starts fondling his tape measure), When Thunderbolt DOES arrive, he's actually not as bad as all that. You see, the warning stranger is actually his friend, and he just likes to do that to bring attention to himself (smart guy!). Soon, thunderbolt does do some good by ridding the town of some problematic folk. The bankers are impressed, and want Thunderbolt to be sheriff. He'll do it under one condition.. He must first get to kiss the town's only girl! The bankers agree that it's a fine idea to sell her off for this proposal (!!) and soon, Thunderbolt is fighting badasses in town so that the town will have a squeaky clean image for a chance for the railroad to come through! This is a pretty fun film, though instantly forgettable. Ken Maynard is fun as the hero, and Francis Lee is quite good too.