Saturday, October 5, 2024

Roy Barcroft: The Purple Monster Strikes the Mickey Mouse Club

I don't expect my reader to recognize the name of Roy Barcroft. However, if you've ever watched a 1940's "B" Western, more than likely you have seen his face. Roy appeared in over 350-roles and almost two-thirds were for "Republic Pictures". They didn't just include westerns, but classic cliff-hanger serials, action adventure, drama, science fiction, and 3-mini-series on a certain "Mouse's" club. Obviously, I am not going to mention all his credits in a blog, should you be interested, the website "IMDb" has an extensive, but possibly not complete list at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0054117/.
















WELCOME TO THE MYSTERY OF WHO ROY BARCROFT WAS BEFORE MOTION PICTURES?

According to the website, "Wikipedia", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Barcroft:

On September 7, 1902, in Crab Orchard, Nebraska, Roy Barcroft was born as Howard HAROLD Ravenscroft. 

The website "Find a Grave Memorial":

 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5977/roy-barcroft

Confirmed that birth name, but ads that his parents were William Ravenscroft and Lillian Ravenscroft, and he had THREE siblings.

According to the website, "IMDb", https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0054117/bio/:

The date of Roy Barcroft's birth and the place of his birth are the same, but his name at birth is given as Howard CLIFFORD Ravenscroft.

While, according to Geoff Mayer's, 2017, "Encyclopedia of American Film Serials":

https://books.google.com/books?id=mCgSDgAAQBAJ&q=%22Howard+Harold+Ravenscroft%22&pg=PA43#v=onepage&q=%22Howard%20Harold%20Ravenscroft%22&f=false

The Ravenscroft family were farmers and he was the SEVENTHN born child, and growing up, worked on his parent's farm. However, that changed in 1917, when 15-years-old Howard enlisted in the United States Army and fought in France. Where he was wounded and discharged at the age of 16. At this point in his life, the young man was a drifter, working as a roughneck, a ranch hand, a railroad worker, and even went to sea on a merchant ship. The military life appealed to him, and Howard Ravenscroft re-enlisted in the army and spent a tour stationed on the island of Hawaii and at Fort Lewis, Washington. These events are confirmed on other websites.

Continuing with Geoff Mayer's mini-biography:

After his second military discharge, Roy worked with various musical bands in the Chicago, Illinois, area. During this time, he married Vera Thompson, and in 1929, at the start of "The Great Depression", they moved to Los Angeles. 

However, we have another biographical conflict with Laura Wagner's, August 2017, article, "Roy Barcroft: King of the Badmen", in the monthly magazine,"Classic Images, issue #506":

https://www.moviemags.com/main.php?title=CLASSIC%20IMAGES

Laura Wagner states Howard married Vera in 1932, in Los Angeles, and the couple would later have two-children. 

However, the website, "Whodatedwho.com" at:

https://www.whosdatedwho.com/dating/hortense-flanagan

Further confuses the situation, by adding Roy had a previous wife, a lady named Hortense Flanagan.That was the only information is available to me about her. Apparently, the two met, married and divorced, in the same year of 1930, in Los Angeles. 

Wait, I'm not done with Roy's previous wives. Returning to his biography on the link above at the "IMDb" website. Roy Barcroft married a Lena Wade, on April 23, 1927 and divorced her on an unspecified future date. Further, they had two children. That site also states that Vera's full name was Vera Virginia Doris Thompson, and the couple only had one child. 

Just to add to the confusion, I give my reader the following from "The Files of Jerry Blake" 

https://filesofjerryblake.com/serial-villains/roy-barcroft/

Barcroft was born Harold Ravenscroft in Crab Orchard, Nebraska. His family moved from Nebraska to Oklahoma, and then to Washington during his youth. By 1920, he was living in Seattle, where he seems to have worked both as a seaman and a carpenter. He married in Seattle in 1927, and by 1930 had relocated to Illinois, where he worked as a car salesman. He moved to California a year later, where he continued his salesman career and took a few jobs as an movie extra. Reportedly, he had no interest in acting but began taking acting lessons as a way of improving his salesman skills. By 1936 he had apparently started developing an interest in acting for its own sake, and began playing small bits in various films. 

 

So, I leave all of this for my readers to solve the mystery of who Roy Barcroft was before his motion picture career began. 


A MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION CAREER

Within my research, I could not locate when and where Howard (Harold-Clifford) Ravenscroft became Roy Barcroft. It is probable that this occurred when he started appearing in local stage productions to improve his speaking as a salesman.

On December 26, 1931, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, released "Mata Hari", starring Greta Garbo, Ramon Navarro, Lewis Stone, and Lionel Barrymore. Buried with 17 other uncredited actors, was the name Roy Barcroft, portraying an unnamed role, and shown just as "an Extra". His movie career had begun!

His next role, also uncredited, was as a "Cossack", in the Pola Negri, Roland Young, and Basil Rathbone, 1932, "A Woman Commands". In 1936, Roy Barcroft, was an uncredited "Throne Guard", in "Universal Pictures" first "Flash Gordon" cliff-hanger (serial), starring Buster Crabbe.

What Roy Barcroft was doing when he was not in those first three on-screen appearances, I could not confirm. We know he was a salesman, and we know he was appearing at times in "Little Theater", but I could not find any specific information to fill in the blanks. We do know that he had two uncredited roles following "Flash Gordon", in both, "Republic Picture's", 1936's, "The President's Mystery", and 1937's, "Join the Marines".

According to Jerry Blake:

His first serial was Dick Tracy(Republic, 1937), in which he only appeared occasionally and had one or two lines as one of the background crewmen on the villains’ “flying wing.”

Which we know is incorrect, as he had been in "Universal Pictures", 1936, "Flash Gordon", but without some lines to say.

















Below, Roy Barcroft is seen to the pilot's right portraying a "Wing Air Crewman".


















Five uncredited roles, including portraying an "Alarm Technician" in "Universal Pictures", "Night Key", starring Boris Karloff, and a "Martian Soldier", in 1938's, "Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars", followed, 1937's,"Dick Tracy".

Roy Barcroft had his first credited role in "Universal Pictures":

FLAMING FRONTIERS Chapter One released on July 5, 1938





On June 20, 1932, Noah Beery, Jr.  starred in the "Universal Pictures", cliff-hanger, "Heroes of the West". Which was based upon the novel "The Ties That Binds", by Peter Bernard Kyne, his first novel was 1913's, "The Three Godfathers". 

"Flaming Frontiers" is a remake, with names changed from  the 1932 cliff-hanger.

In this, "Flaming Frontiers", ex-football player, Johnny Mack Brown, billed as John Mack Brown, portrayed famous scout, "Tex Houston". Who helps, and rescues several times over the 15-Chapters, "Mary Grant", portrayed by Eleanor Hansen. Whose brother, "Tom Grant", was portrayed. in his first on-screen appearance, by Ralph Bowman, and changed his name to John Archer three pictures later.













Above, Johnny Mack Brown and Eleanor Hansen, this was the 4th of her 14-movies. Below Hansen with Ralph Bowman (John Archer).












Roy Barcroft had the last fully credited role, he was billed 20th, portraying "Bill Hollister".













Above, Roy Barcroft and Johnny Mack Brown.

The next 5-years found Roy Barcroft bouncing around film studios between credited and uncredited roles. Among his films was 1938's, "Heroes of the Hills", the 16th feature in the "Three Mesquiteers" series. At this time the three were portrayed by Robert "Bob" Livingston, Ray "Crash" Corrigan, and Max Tehrune. Over the 51 films of that series, the character name's didn't change, but the actors would change. At one point, the new actors included John Wayne and adult, "Mouseketeer" Jimmy Dodd. My article is "An Overview of 'THE THREE MESQUITEERS': A Classic 'B' Western Series" to read at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2021/11/an-overview-of-three-mesquiteers.html

The fully credited, Roy Barcroft, portrayed "Robert Beaton" in this series entry. The basic storyline had "The Three Mesquiteers"offering their ranch for a work farm to help the over crowded prisons system. However, Construction Company Man, "Beaton", wants their experiment in inmate rehabilitation to fail, as he wants to be able to build a new prison at the State's expense.

Moving on, Barcroft was 5th billed, "Henchman Thane", in the "Buck Jones" western, 1938's, "The Stranger from Arizona", and in the William Boyd, "Hopalong Cassidy", 1938, "The Frontiersmen", he had the credited role of "Sutton". As the character was called in the movie, but when the credits rolled, the character was shown as "Buster". 

There was an uncredited role in Bela Lugosi's last cliff-hanger, "Universal Pictures", 1939, "The Phantom Creeps". That same year, Roy Barcroft found himself portraying "Mac McElroy", in the Gene Autry and Smiley Burnett, "Mexicali Rose", from "Republic Pictures". The screenplay was about fraudulent oil men that are selling rights to a nonexistent oil field on a Mexican orphanage's land.


















Above standing is Roy Barcroft, seated on the right is William Royale, portraying Robert Carruthers. I could not locate the actor seen between them

Also in 1939, Barcroft found himself portraying "Colonel George Armstrong Custer", in "Universal Pictures", 15-Chapter western cliff-hanger, "The Oregon Trail", starring Johnny Mack Brown, with his "B" western sidekick, John Forest "Fuzzy" Knight, and as the damsel in distress, Louise Stanley, who had just divorced actor Dennis O'Keefe. 



I want to direct my reader to the small tag line above JOHN MACK BROWN's name. It reads:

THE New UNIVERSAL Presents

"Universal Pictures" was founded by Carl Laemmle in 1912, as the "Universal Film Manufacturing Company", but in 1934, the Laemmle family lost control of the studio in a hostile takeover. 

















Above left to right, Johnny Mack Brown, Roy Barcroft in a wig, and Fuzzy Knight.

Roy Barcroft was finding himself  appearing mainly in westerns as one of the bad guys. However, he started 1940, in a crime drama, "They All Come Out", in the uncredited role of a "Federal Marshall", but he was next back to westerns. Another break for that genre was appearing in the dual uncredited roles of "Ming's Soldier", in Chapter 6, and Chapters 10 through 12, and an "Arborian Sentry", also in Chapter 6, of "Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe", the third and final cliff-hanger in that series from "Universal Pictures"

















Above left to right, Roland Drew portraying "Prince Barin", Anne Gwynne portraying "Sonja", Don Rowan portraying "Captain Torch" and Roy Barcroft wearing the dark glasses.

Then it was back to 42 "B" westerns, and 4 non-westerns, and both 1940's,"East of the River", starring John Garfield, and the cliff-hanger, "The Green Hornet Strikes Again". In 1941, Roy Barcroft portrayed a "Coastguardsmen" in a cliff-hanger starring Robert Armstrong, "Sky Raiders". 

While the major production, 1942's, "Nazi Agent", saw Roy as an uncredited "Chief Petty Officer". The motion picture starred Conrad Veidt, "Cesare, the somnambulist", in 1920's, "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari", and Frank Reicher, "Captain Englehorn", of both 1933's, "King Kong" and "Son of Kong". "Nazi Agent" in part of my article "Frank Recher: B4 'King Kong' 2 TV's 'Superman" at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2024/08/frank-reicher-b4-king-kong-2-tvs.html


In 1943, Roy Barcroft was offered a 10-year-contract with "Republic Pictures", and he accepted. 

His first movie after signing with was a "B" western that could have been a modern day crime drama.

CARSON CITY CYCLONE released on March 3, 1943



Don "Red" Barry, the nickname that stuck with the actor came from starring in 1940's, "The Adventures of Red Ryder". The first on-screen appearance of the character based upon Fred Harmon's very popular Sunday newspaper comic strip. Barry portrayed lawyer, "Gilbert "Gil" Phalen". 

Lynn Merrick portrayed "Linda Wade", and would co-star with "Red" Barry in 16-feature films. Noah Berry, Sr. portrayed "Judge Ben Phalen" and Bryant Andrews portrayed "Doctor Andrews".

Roy Barcroft portrayed lawyer and prosector, "Joe Newman".

An Overview of the Crime Drama by story creator and screenplay writer Norman S. Hall. In 1933, Hall had moved French author Alexander Dumas's "The Three Musketeers", to the 1933 Arabian desert. With writer Colbert Clark, they wrote a 12-Chapter cliff-hanger, with a 4th-billed, John Wayne, and a 6th-billed Creighton Chaney, before he became Lon Chaney, Jr. Just before this motion picture, Norman S. Hall, wrote the screenplay for the Don "Red" Barry, and Lynn Merrick, 1943, "Dead Man's Gulch".

A robbery takes place at a bank and the night watchmen is killed, but before he dies. The watchman claims the robbery was committed by "Tom Barton", portrayed by Curley Dresden. Lawyer "Gilbert Phalen", after a mob attempts to break into the jail and hang "Barton", is able to get "Barton's' trial moved to neighboring Carson City. 

The problem is the judge in Carson City is "Gil's" father. Who, because of "Gil's" lifestyle, which includes associating with a known criminal element, has cut ties with his son,

Add to this the fact that a bet of $200 was made with "Gil" by "Frank Garrett", portrayed by Stuart Hamblen, a henchman of the unknown crime boss, "Dr. Andrews". That "Gil" will get an acquittal for "Tom Barton" from the "Hanging Judge", his father. "Gil's" $200 bet is in the form of a check made out to cash.

Facing him in court is the prosecuting attorney, "Joe Newman". "Gil" wins the acquittal, making "Newman" a laughing stock in the process, and even further upsets his father over his tactics. Next, amazingly, "Joe Newman" has the check signed by "Gil", raising questions about his opponents ethics, because it was endorsed and cashed by "Fred Shepherd", portrayed by Frank Ellis. Who was "Gil's" star witness in his acquittal case for "Tom Barton", In short, "Newman" accuses "Gil" of bribery to get "Shepard's" favorable testimony. "Ben Phalen" has had it with his son, he asks his secretary "Linda Wade" to find his son as he now plans to disbar him.

"Judge Ben Phalen", also owns a bank in Carson City, and while "Linda" is searching for "Gil", goes to it. There he catches "Dr. Andrews" and his henchmen robbing the bank and is killed. Meanwhile, "Linda" is unable to locate "Gil". In the morning, "Judge Ben Phalen's" body is found, and "Joe Newman" accuses "Gilbert Phalen" of murdering his father, but before he can be arrested, "Gil" escapes.

However, "Linda" confides in kindly "Dr, Andrews" that she's own her way to find "Gil". She leaves, but the doctor instructs "Gilbert" and "Barton" to follow her and kill both "Gil" and "Linda". When the two gunmen arrive, "Gil" realizes that "Dr. Andrews" is behind his father's murder and the bank robberies. "Barton" is killed in the confrontation, but "Garrett" is only wounded. "Gil" gets "Sheriff Wells", portrayed by Bud Osborne, and "Tombstone Boggs", portrayed by Emmett Lynn, and the three take "Garrett" to "Dr. Andrews" to perform the life-saving operation on his own henchmen.













In the end, the governor appoints "Gilbert Phalen" to take over as judge of Carson City to his secretary, "Linda Wade's" delight.

Prior to March 17, 1945, Roy Barcroft appeared in 30 westerns, and 8 non-westerns such as portraying an uncredited "Prison Guard" in "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's", 1943, "Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case", starring Lionel Barrymore, Van Johnson, Keye Luke, and featuring Margaret O'Brien and Donna Reed. In the John Wayne, Dennis O'Keefe, and Susan Hayward, 1944, "The Fighting Seabdees", Barcroft had the uncredited role, with the "original" name of, "Seaman Barcroft". 

While also in 1944, Roy Barcroft co-starred with major cliff-hanger star, Kane Richmond, in "Republic Picture's", action-crime-adventure cliff-hanger, "Haunted Harbor".
















Above, Kane Richmond portraying "Jim Marsden", and Roy Barcroft portraying "Carter" aka: "Kane". My article is "KANE RICHMOND: Only the SHADOW Know the SPY SMASHER!" found at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2021/02/kane-richmond-only-shadow-knows-spy.html

Which brings me to March 17, 1945, and the release of:

MANHUNT OF MYSTERY ISLAND



The screenplay was written by six writers and the feature directed by three directors. One of which was stunt man, actor, and second united stunt director Yakima Canutt. 

Richard Bailey portrayed "Lance Reardon". His movie career consisted of 22 pictures, usually in very small roles, spread out from 1942 to 1964.

Linda Stirling portrayed "Claire Forrest". Stirling was not the weak heroine type in "Republic Pictures" cliff-hangers. She had the title role of a "Tarzan" like character in 1944's, "The Tiger Woman"and was that year's "Zorro's Black Whip".




Roy Barcroft portrayed "Captain Mephisto". According to the "Turner Classic Movie" website at: https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/497765/manhunt-of-mystery-island#trivia

Roy Barcroft regarded "Captain Mephisto" in this non-western serial as his favorite role.

 













Kenne Duncan portrayed "Sidney Brand". Duncan was a familiar face in "B" westerns as the bad guy. He also worked with producer and director Ed Wood in five of Wood's motion pictures.























The Basics of a Thrilling Cliff-Hanger:

"Claire Forrest's" father, scientist "William Forrest", portrayed by Forrest Taylor, has been kidnapped and she goes to criminologist and private detective "Lance Reardon" for help. Her father has invented the "radio-atomic power transmitter". 














Their search leads into the Pacific Ocean, and "Mystery Island", owned by the four heirs to the island. However, the island is being controlled by "Captain Mephisto", who appears to actually be a pirate from 200-years-ago.

The problem facing "Claire" and "Lance" is to figure out which one of the four heirs can transform into "Captain Mephisto" by the use of her father's invention, seen above on the poster.




















Above, Roy Barcroft and Kenne Duncan planning how to stop Linda Stirling and the boring, miscast, Richard Bailey.







For the next three-hours-and-forty-three-minutes, enjoy, as of this writing, the complete 15-Chapter, Pirate Science Fiction, "Manhunt of Mystery Island" at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKwc8Sqkrqc

Think Vampires, and "COUNT DRACULA", originally created by Irish author Abraham "Bram" Stoker, comes to mind. However, Roy Barcroft became involved in a different vampire created by a 30-years-old young woman screenplay and science fiction writer. The authoress of the original screenplay for "Star Wars: the Empire Strikes Back", and making "Darth Vader", "Luke's" father. 

THE VAMPIRE'S GHOST released May 21, 1945



The following comes from my article "LEIGH BRACKETT: Howard Hawks and John Wayne Meet 'The Queen of Space Opera" found at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2018/06/leigh-brackett-john-wayne-meets-queen.html

On May 27, 1945, "Republic Pictures" released "The Vampire's Ghost". Although John K. Butler has the main screenplay writing credit. It is acknowledged this was really Leigh Brackett's first screenplay and Butler only reviewed her writing. 

This original vampire tale was all Brackett and she does get that additional on screen credit.



The best way, in my opinion, to describe "The Vampire's Ghost", is "Dracula Meets Casablanca". Although "Webb Fallon" is in no way like Bram Stoker's famous vampire. 

Describing how she was offered this writing job. Scott Myers, on November 25, 2015, in his "How to Write a Script" series, quoted Leigh Brackett on Republic Pictures:

they were doing this horror film. They decided to cash in on the Universal monster school, and I had been doing science fiction, and to them it all looked the same — “bug-eyed monsters. It made no difference.

Another interview from 1975, first published in 1976, can be found on the website "Tangent" In it. Leigh described the shooting schedule on her first motion picture:

They shot the film in ten days and that was two days over schedule (laughing). They fired the cameraman after the second day because he was taking too much time. But uh, it was not the greatest film ever made.

https://www.tangentonline.com/interviews-columnsmenu-166/1270-classic-leigh-brackett-a-edmond-hamilton-interview

The story is set in the African town of Bakunda and revolves around a local bar and nightclub owned by "Webb Fallon", portrayed by John Abbott. Abbott's performance, like many of his others, is very low keyed. His vampire is never over the top as Bela Lugosi was in 1931's, "Dracula", 1935's, "Mark of the Vampire" and 1944's, "Return of the Vampire", or even how John Carradine's performance was in 1944's, "House of Frankenstein", and 1945's, "House of Dracula".  Leigh Brackett's "Fallon" is a very likable person and he can walk around in direct sunlight. The only notable difference, from  other white residents of the town, is he wears very dark sun glasses.



British actor Abbott had been in motion pictures starting in the U.K., before World War 2. Some of his appearances included portraying "Prospero", in 1939, This was in a two part version for British television of William Shakespeare's, "The Tempest", and yes there was television in 1939That same year he appeared in "The Saint in London", starring George Sanders. In 1942, Abbott appeared in the American made, "Mrs. Miniver", starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon, set in England. 

Over his 164-roles, John Abbott's films had a wide range. They included the 1943 propaganda war movie, "The Cross of Lorraine", starring Gene Kelly, 1944's, "Cry of the Werewolf", 1946's, "The Bandit of Sherwood Forest", portraying "Will Scarlet", and the 1958 musical "Gigi", staring Leslie Caron and Louis Jourdon.



Above Peggy Stewart portraying "Julie Vance" and Charles Gordon portraying "Roy Henrick".

Peggy Stewart started her career at Paramount Pictures in 1937's, "Wells Fargo", portraying Joel McCrea's teenage daughter. She moved to Republic and starting in 1944, portrayed the roles of the "Girl in Distress" in many of "B" Western, featuring Allan Lane, "Sunset" Carson and "Wild Bill" Elliot. This film  was a break for her. While Charles Gordon has a total of nine acting credits to his name, and this was number four.

"Roy Henrick" returns home to the town of Bakunda to discover the small community is frightened, because of a series of murders. Each victim has been drained of blood and there are two tiny puncture marks on their necks.The natives claim it is a vampire. Sounds liked a typical vampire movie, but the audience is dealing with Leigh Douglas Brackett.

The local nightclub is run by newcomer, "Webb Fallon"  For the small community on the Ivory Coast, this is the place to gather and enjoy entertainment. Think of it as "Rick's Place Meets Tarzan". 




As seen above, Abbott's vampire smokes, he also drinks liquor and eats food. To all appearances he is just as normal as anyone else in Bakunda. "Fallon" is a congenial host, but like Bogie's "Rick Blaine". You don't want to mess with him. In one case, a troublesome Sea Captain, "Jim Barrett", portrayed by Roy Bancroft, finds out twice. 


First, by being thrown out of the nightclub by an extremely strong "Fallon", and second by becoming a victim of the vampire.





Next, it's "Webb Fallon's" dancer "Lisa", portrayed by Adele Mara, who makes a mistake and is killed by the vampire.

"Roy", his girl friend "Julie", and her father "Thomas Vance", portrayed by Emmett Vogan, the owner of a large plantation, decide to speak to "Webb". Apparently he is an expert on the occult and voodoo. "Webb" should be, as he's been around for 400 years. Another twist on Stoker, and other vampire story writers, is that in a box presented to him by "Queen Elizabeth the First". "Fallon" keeps some of his original burial soil. At night he sleeps not in a coffin, but a normal bed. The box is kept under the pillow where his head rests. "Webb Fallon" was actually one of the Sea Captain's of Elizabeth's fleet that fought the Spanish Armada in 1588.

 

A native discovers the truth about "Webb" as they are talking. This happens when he notices that "Fallon" is not casting a reflection in a mirror. An attempt to kill him with a silver tip spear fails initially, but the tip is broken off the spear and is in "Webb Fallon's" chest.





"Roy" has also become suspicious of "Fallon". He finds the vampire with the spear head in him and "Webb" convinces "Roy" to remove it. Bad move on "Henrick's" part.



The vampire reveals his whole history to "Roy", but then puts him under a curse. Turning "Roy" into part Zombie and his slave. When "Roy" goes back to "Julie" and her father. He appears normal, but also feverish.



After realizing that everyone knows the truth. "Fallon" places "Julie" under a voodoo spell and has her come to him. Leigh Brackett is deftly mixing African Voodoo with European Vampire Legends.






Below it is up to "Father Gilchrist", portrayed by Grant Withers, to break the hold "Webb Fallon" has on "Roy Henrick's". Then they go after the vampire, as the local natives already are doing. 

Wither's name may not be familiar to my reader, but he appeared as "Police Captain William 'Bill' Street" in five of the "Mr. Wong Detective" films starring Boris Karloff. He was "Ike Clanton" in John Ford's, 1946, "Mr. Darling Clementine", the villain "Silas Meacham" in Ford's, 1948"Fort Apache", and the Deputy Marshall in Ford's, 1950's, "Rio Grande". 





That film's climax comes at the ruins of an old Temple deep within the African Jungle. It is here that "Fallon's" actual coffin is hidden.


|






The movie is now available on Blu-ray and is worth a look. This feature is part of five mostly overlooked little thriller gems from the 1940's, I wrote about at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2016/11/the-undying-monster-seventh-victim.html


From an African vampire it was back to "B" westerns, three, Roy Barcroft had 4th-billing in 1945's, "Santa Fe Saddlemates", starring Sunset Carson and Linda Stirling, 1945's, "Bells of Rosarita", starring Roy Rodgers, Trigger, and George "Gabby" Hayes, featuring Dale Evans, and 1945's, "Trail of Kit Carson", starring Allan Lane.

For his next feature, "Republic Pictures" gave Roy Barcroft the title role, when:

THE PURPLE MONSTER STRIKES Chapter One was released on August 3, 1945



Dennis Moore portrayed "Craig Foster". The previous year he had 5th-billing, in 1944's, "The Mummy's Curse", starring Lon Chaney, Jr. The majority of Moore's films during the 1930's and 1940's were "B" westerns, but depending upon the film, he was on either side of the law. Moore had just been seen as the western sidekick for country western singer Jimmy Wakely, in 1945's, "Springtime in Texas". Dennis Moore followed this cliff-hanger by co-starring with Johnny Mack Brown and Raymond Hatton in 1945's, "Frontier Feud".

Linda Stirling portrayed "Sheila Layton". Sterling next portrayed an uncredited "Entertainer", in the John Wayne, Vera Ralston, the wife of Hebert J. Yates, the owner of "Republic Pictures", and Walter Brennan's, 1945, "Dakota".

















Roy Barcroft portrayed "The Purple Monster". 


















James Craven, below left, portrayed "Dr. Cyrus Layton". Until he appeared on television in 1951, the majority of his 106-roles were uncredited starting in 1940. However, his films include the Tyrone Power and Betty Grable, 1941, "A Yank in the RAF", James Cagney's, 1942, "Captains of the Clouds", Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce's, 1942, "Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon", and their 1945, "Pursuit to Algiers". Craven was also in 1949's, "Mighty Joe Young", and the two 1949 cliff-hangers, "Batman and Robin", and "King of the Rocket Men".





























Mary Moore portrayed "Marcia, the Purple Monster's Martian assistant". Mary Francis Feurtado only appeared in 14 movies, but her last name of Moore, comes from her marriage to actor Clayton Moore, television's "The Lone Ranger". However, here we go again, if you look up Clayton on "Wikipedia", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clayton_Moore, it shows their marriage was from 1940 through 1942, ending in divorce. However, according to "IMDb", https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0562773/bio/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm, the two were married from August 19, 1940 through their divorce in 1950.
































Above, Roy Barcroft, Linda Stirling, and Mary Moore. 

Note: the Chapter Numbers and the Chapter Titles, do not connect with most of the lobby cards. Example, Mary Moore does not enter the story until Chapter 11.

Let's get one thing straight, "The Purple Monster", technically isn't purple. The costumes that Roy Barcroft, and Mary Moore wear are mainly blue with yellow scales. 

The special effects, as were the majority of those for "Republic Pictures", came from the Lydecker Brothers. My article is "Howard and Theodore Lydecker: Special Effects During the Rise and Fall of Republic Pictures" may be found at:



Highlights of the Screenplay:

Working late in his observatory, "Dr. Cyrus Layton" is looking through his telescope and spots a "Purple Meteor" heading for the Earth. The meteor crashes near "Layton's" laboratory and he goes to investigate. What he finds isn't a meteor, but a flaming one-person space craft from Mars, and out steps its occupant. The Martian introduces himself to "Dr. Layton" as the "Purple Monster". Up until shooting actually started, he was called the "Purple Shadow".

"Dr. Layton" takes the alien to his laboratory, where the Martian asks specifically to see "Layton's" plans for his "Interplanetary Jet Plane". Yes, it would seem to be a "Rocketship", but competitor "Universal Pictures" had copyrighted the word "Rocketship" for their "Flash Gordon" serials.

My reader, please don't question why a scientist with a "top secret" clearance, one-month from Japan's surrender and the end of the Second World War, would let an alien, let alone one from Mars, see his top secret plans, but then we wouldn't have a story if he didn't.

Additionally, "Dr. Cyrus Layton" shows the alien his plans for another invention, an "Anti-Gravity Devise", that would have prevent the Martian's crash landing.


























After seeing the plans and revealing he is the vanguard for an invasion of the Earth from Mars. The "Purple Monster" takes out a capsule of "Martian Carbo-Oxide Gas" and exposes "Layton" to it. The scientist immediately drops dead. Next, the invader exposes himself to the same gas and turns invisible and is able to enter "Layton's" body, animate it, and to all appearance he is the scientist.


























When this happens throughout the 15-Chapters, the Lydecker Brothers use the simple expedient of a double exposure.

























































The above, fool's both "Dr. Layton's" niece, "Sheila", and criminologist, "Craig Foster", that work for her uncle's foundation overseeing the construction of his space craft. 




























Above, Roy Barcroft has his pistol pointed at good-guy, Kenne Duncan portraying "Charles Mitchell". While his primary Earth, henchmen, "Hodge Garrett", portrayed by Bud Geary, ties "Mitchell" up. This is from "Chapter One: The Man in the Meteor", "Mitchell" is able to get a warning to "Craig Foster" that prevents a jet engine from being destroyed.

For the next 10-Chapters, the audience gets to see "Sheila Layton" and "Craig" fall in love, each trading off saving the other, but still not suspecting "Uncle Cyrus" of not being the enemy. However, in "Chapter 11: Menace from Mars", the "Purple Monster" believes he needs help in carrying out his mission and contacts the "Emperor of Mars", portrayed by John Davidson, below with Roy Barcroft.




























"Marcia" is sent to Earth with the mission to become "Sheila Layton". This fails and we have a great fight on a cliff between "Sheila" and "Marcia" leading to the Martian woman's death in "Chapter 12: Perilous Plunge".


















































Above, credit to stunt women, Babe DeFreest for Linda Stirling, and Polly Burson for Mary Moore.


Also in "Chapter 12", "Craig" and "Sheila" finally figure out that something strange is going on with "Uncle Cyrus Layton". In "Chapter 15: Take-Off to Destruction", the "Purple Monster" finally has "Dr. Layton's" "Interplanetary Jet Plane" completed and plans to leave in it to Mars and help build the invasion fleet.


































The "Purple Monster" gets into the "Interplanetary Jet Plane" and launches toward the Red Planet, but "Craig Foster" uses one of the Martian's own weapons, the "Electro-Annihilator", and blows the craft with the alien invader in it, up!





























Barcroft followed this cliff-hanger with "Along the Navajo Trail", released on September 15, 1945, and starring Roy Rodgers, Trigger, George "Gabby" Hayes, and featuring Dale Evans and Estelita Rodriguez.




Roy Barcroft is seen in the lower left corner of the above poster, portraying "Rusty Channing".























Above, Estelita Rodriguez portraying "Narita", Roy Barcroft and Roy Rodgers. This still is from the first confrontation between the two actors. "Channing" is making advances on "Narita", her boyfriend trays to stop him, and it is up to "Roy Rodgers", who gets into the expected fight with "Roy Barcroft" defending the other two. 


Unlike, Linda Stirling, for Roy Barcroft, it would be 4 "B" westerns and one comedy romance with an uncredited role, before the actor was seen in 1945's, "Dakota". I've mentioned, while speaking of Stirling, that Hungarian born actress, Vera Ralston, was the wife of the owner and founder of "Republic Pictures", Herbert J. Yates. I draw by reader to the "Tag Line" on the following poster for her.



It reads:
THE SCREEN'S MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN

Roy Barcroft had the last credited role, portraying 6th-billed, Hugo Haas's, "Driver", with 25th-billing.

Roy Barcroft was in a western that might owe itself more to Charles Dickens's "Oliver Twist", than say Louis L'Amour, or Zane Grey. The western was the 12th entry in the "Republic Pictures", "Red Ryder" film series of 24 feature films. I've mentioned that Don "Red" Barry, was the first actor to portray "Red Ryder" in "The Adventures of Red Ryder", released on June 28, 1940. The series would end on August 15, 1947, with Allan Lane portraying "Red Ryder", in the "Marshall of Cripple Creek". Roy Barcroft portrayed "Henchmen Sweeny" in that final entry.

This entry in the series was the:

COLORADO PIONEERS was released on November 14, 1945




The original story came from writer Peter Whitehead. Who must have been a Charles Dickens fan, because of the character that Roy Barcroft portrayed and the nature of the two boys in his employ.

Bill Elliott aka "Wild Bill" Elliott portrayed "Red Ryder". Of his previous 11 movies, only one was not as "Red Ryder", and that picture was portraying "Wild Bill Elliott".

Robert Blake, billed as Bobby Blake, portrayed "Red Ryder's" Native American sidekick, "Little Beaver". Bobby started this role in the first "Wild Bill Elliott" feature, 1944's, "Tucson Raiders". Long before Robert Blake was "Perry" in Truman Capote's, 1967, "In Cold Blood", a motorcycle police officer in 1967's, "Electra Glide in Blue", or portraying televisions "Baretta", 1975 through 1978. Bobby Blake was one of producer Hal Roach's original "Our Gang" members portraying "Mickey".



















Alice Fleming portrayed "The Duchess". Fleming throughout her film career was still a legitimate stage actress, who started appearing on-screen in 1919. Starting with 1944's, "Tucson Raiders", Alice Fleming appeared 16 times in the role of "The Duchess", this was her 11th.




















Roy Barcroft portrayed "Bull Reagan". Barcroft had just provided "The voice of the Police dispatcher" in 1945's, "Girl's of the Big House". He followed this feature film with the Sunset Carson and Linda Stirling, 1945, "The Cherokee Flash". On the above poster, that's Roy Barcroft on the right, not in western clothing.

The Basic Western, "Oliver Twist" and the Spanish American War Screenplay:

Apparently, the "Spanish American War" has just ended, placing the story sometime just after December 10, 1898. For those unfamiliar with the war, my article is "Hearst, Pulitzer, Theodore Roosevelt, Hollywood and the Spanish American War", for my reader's reading at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2021/07/hearst-pulitzer-hollywood-and-spanish.html

"Red Ryder" and "Little Beaver" are in Chicago to negotiating, with "Dave Wyatt", portrayed by Frank Jaquet,  the purchase of beef now that the war has ended and the prices are dropping. However, two wayward boys, "Joe", the Artful Dodger character, portrayed by Billy Cummings,  and a version. of the "Dodger's" apprentice, "Oliver Twist", "Skinny", portrayed by Freddie Chapman, working for a definite Charles Dickens, "Fagin" character, "Bull Reagan", help him distract and rob "Wyatt".


















Which is a big mistake, as seen above on the right, they're dealing with "Red Ryder". They might be in the modern city of Chicago, but "Red" and "Little Beaver" can track anyone, anywhere, and they find "Bull" and his "Henchman Bill Slade", can you say "Bill Sikes", portrayed by Bud Geary.



















Above left to right, Bud Geary, Bill Elliott, and Roy Barcroft.

"Bull" and "Bill" are knocked out by "Red" and arrested by the police, and the two boys brought before the "Judge", portrayed by Emmett Vogan.




















"Red Ryder" and "Father Marion", portrayed by Tom Chatterton, convince the judge to have the boys spend the summer on "The Duchess's" ranch to straighten themselves out. Additionally, "Father Marion's" entire boys home, "The Parish", is invited also. Among the boys from "The Parish" is "Smokey", portrayed by another member of producer Hal Roach's, "Our Gang", Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas.











For my reader interested in the origin of "Our Gang", it will be found in my article about director Gordon Douglas, entitled "Gordon Douglas: The Little Rascals (Our Gang) - Giant Ants - and Francis Albert Sinatra" at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2024/07/gordon-douglas-little-rascals-our-gang.html

When "Red Ryder" and "Little Beaver" return to their Colorado ranch, they find that half the ranch has been burnt down and his ranch hands are leaving with "The Duchess" covering their pay for "Ryder".

"Little Beaver" starts teaching "The Parish" boys ranch and cowboy ways and there is some trouble with "Joe" and "Skinny", but that settles down. "The Duchess's" ranch becomes the Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney, 1938, "Boy's Town", in a western setting.


















Then "Red" discovers that "Bull Reagan" has escaped and is in Colorado with the "Ryder's" troublesome neighbor, leading to other problems. At the climax, "Little Beaver", the reformed "Joe", and "Skinny", and the other" boys, go after both "Bull" and the neighbor. All leading to one exciting wagon chase sequence and the comeuppance of both villains in what is actually an enjoyable family modern for the year, "B" western..


































In the "Republic's", 1946, film-noir, "Crime of the Century", Roy Barcroft is again not seen, but provides several off-screen voices. While in another "Red Ryder" picture, 1946's, "Sun Valley Cyclone", with "Wild Bill Elliott", Bobby Blake, and Alice Fleming, 4th-billed, Roy Barcroft portrayed the colorfully named villain, "Blackie Blake". "Blake" is the leader of a gang of horse thieves stealing from the army and "Ryder" and "Little Beaver" go after them. However, in a flashback, the audience is back with the "Spanish American War", and learns that "Red Ryder" was at a recruiting office for "Teddy Roosevelt's", portrayed by Ed Cassidy, "Rough Riders" and won his horse by winning a challenge from the future president. Now, "Ryder's" horse challenges a white wild stallion that leads the mustangs being broken for the cavalry and following the stallion leads to "Blackie Blake" and his gang.

















Above left to right, Alice Fleming, Kenne Duncan portraying "Dow", Bill Elliott, and Tom London portraying the "Sheriff". below is our favorite western bad guy, Roy Barcroft.













"Republic Pictures" had a habit of naming motion pictures with titles specially designed to lure an audience into the theater (box office), by using a recognizable name in it. However, the motion picture might not have that actual person or character in it. For example, Roy Barcroft appeared in 1947's, "Son of Zorro", there isn't a "Son", but a distant relative. Who after the American Civil War decides he needs a disguise to fight the bad guys and an imitation of "Zorro" rides again. Another, was my previously mentioned 1943's, "Zorro's Black Whip", without Roy Barcroft. Where Linda Stirling puts on the costume and fights outlaws and politicians that are against Idaho becoming a State. In 1949, it was the grandson of "Don Diego Vega", portrayed by Clayton Moore, that would go after Roy Barcroft in 1949's, "Ghost of Zorro".
















Above, left to right from 1947's, "Son of Zorro", 3rd-billed, Roy Barcroft portraying "Boyd, a Henchman", unidentified actor, George Turner portraying "Jeffrey 'Jeff' Stewart" aka: "Zorro" and Jack O'Shea portraying "Hood, a Henchman".

Below, left to right from 1949's, "Ghost of Zorro", Clayton Moore portraying "Ken Mason" aka: "Zorro", Roy Barcroft portraying "Hank Kilgore", Pamela Blake portraying "Rita White", and Gene Roth portraying "George Crane".
















For those of my readers interested in the character of "Zorro". My revised article looking at the original novel and all motion picture and television work to date is "ZORRO: Johnston McCulley's 'El Zorro' on the Motion Picture and Television Screens" at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2024/09/zorro-johnson-mcculleys-el-zorro-on.html

Between 1947's, "Son of Zorro", and 1949's, "Ghost of Zorro", Roy Barcroft appeared, or his voice was heard, in 39 "Republic Pictures" productions.

 Then there was Frank and Jesse James, "Republic Pictures" version.

On August 2, 1947, the studio released Chapter One, "The Black Raiders", of "Jesse James Rides Again". Clayton Moore, portrayed "Jesse", below, with the real villain of the piece, business man "James Clark", portrayed by Tristram Coffin, 1949's, "King of the Rocket Men", and 1955's, "Creature with the Atom Brain. Who's after everyone's ranch's, because of the oil beneath them. Which, of course, nobody else knows about.















Below left to right, Linda Stirling portraying "Ann Bolton", whose father is killed over his ranch. John Compton portraying "Steve Long", a friend of "Jesse's". Who rode into this town with him, and because Stirling's love interest, and Clayton Moore.












































Above, Roy Barcroft portraying "Ann's" father's killer, "Frank Lawton", working for "James Clark". Whom the good "Jesse James" will bring down.

With the success of their cliff-hanger, "Jesse James Rides Again", "Republic Pictures" released a cliff-hanger sequel on October 30, 1948, "The Adventures of Frank and Jesse James". Except for Clayton Moore being back as "Jesse James", using the alias of "John Howard". There is no one else from the 1947 original.

Then on August 31, 1949, "Republic Pictures" wasn't finished with "Frank" and "Jesse James" and the studio's third cliff-hanger serial, "The James Brothers of Missouri" was released. Clayton Moore wasn't in it, but villain Roy Barcroft was!

This time "Frank", portrayed by Robert Bice, and "Jesse", portrayed by Keith Richards, became "Bob Carrol" and "John Howard". The actual brothers became "B. J. Woodson" and "Thomas Howard", to help a member of their old gang, "Lon Royer", portrayed by John Hamilton. "Lon's" freight company is in competition with "Ace Marlin's", portrayed by Roy Barcroft. "Lon" is murdered by "Ace", and the two outlaw brothers stay to help "Lon's" daughter, "Peg Royer", portrayed by Noel Neill. She had already portrayed the first "Lois Lane" on-screen, in the 1948 "Columbia Picture's" cliff-hanger, "Superman". She had one more film to be released, before repeating "Lois" in 1950's, "Atom Man vs Superman". 

For trivia, both televisions "Lois Lane's", Noel Neill, and Phyllis Coates have roles in the 1952, "Red Scare Science Fiction", "Invasion U. S. A.".


































Above in front, Noel Neill, and Robert Bice, to the right of  Noel, Roy Barcroft.

Roy Barcroft's next motion picture was a typical "B" Western, "Down Dakota Way", released on September 9, 1949. He had 9th-billing in the role of "Mack Mckenzie". 



My reader should note that Dale Evans, with 3rd-billing behind "Trigger", was not yet referred to as the"Queen of the Cowboys", but had married her fourth husband, Roy Rodgers, two-years earlier. It should also be noted that Barcroft's name would have been on this poster, except that the "Republic Picture's" publicity department felt that the 12th-billed country-western musical group, "Riders of the Purple Sage" was a bigger audience draw.

Starting with the Monte Hale "B" western, "San Antone Ambush", released on October 7, 1949 with 4th-billed, Roy Barcroft. Through Allan Lane's, "Desert of Lost Men", released on November 19, 1951, with 5th-billed Roy Barcroft. The actor appeared in 28 "B" westerns, and 10 others films, of which in 4, only his voice was heard over the radio, or loudspeaker.

















Above, Roy Barcroft as "Roberts - Henchman", below, Roy Barcroft as "Link - Henchman".


















Then it was back to appearing in the first of 3 classic "Republic Pictures" science fiction cliff-hanger serials. Part of my article "Republic Pictures: THE ROCKET MAN CLIFF-HANGERS" at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2019/09/republic-pictures-rocket-man-cliff.html

The following is condensed from my article, as will be the other two science fiction cliff-hangers.

RADAR MEN FROM THE MOON Chapter One released on January 9, 1952










The special effects were by Howard and Theodore Lydecker.

George Wallace was "Commando Cody". Prior to this role Wallace had appeared in seven non screen credited films and would have several such roles afterwards. The majority of George Wallace's appearances would be on television. However, in 1956 he portrayed the "Bosun" in the classic Science Fiction, "Forbidden Planet".




Aline Towne was "Joan Gilbert". Towne appeared in several "Cliff Hangers'" including 1950's "The Invisible Monster", co-starring with Richard Webb. Webb would became television's "Captain Midnight" from 1954 through 1956. In 1953 Ailene Towne started to appear primarily in television shows such as "Hopalong Cassidy", "The Adventures of Superman" and "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp". However, she has a non-on-screen credited role in Ivan Tors, 1954, 3-D Science Fiction motion picture "GOG".


Above George Wallace and Aline Towne.

Below, Roy Barcroft, seated, was "Retik". Standing is Peter Bocco portraying "Krog". Bocco started acting in 1931 and his almost skeleton looks made him the perfect villain in many a film and television role.






William Bakewell was "Ted Richards". Bakewell was a "B" actor who appeared in Lewis Milestone's 1930 anti-war motion picture "All Quiet on the Western Front" and was in 1939's "Gone With the Wind".


The Very Basic Screenplay:

"Commando Cody" is an inventor, a researcher, and has a number of employees. One of his inventions  was a "Sonic powered rocket backpack", which he had attached to a leather jacket with controls in the front. Another was a rocket ship capable of reaching the surface of the Moon. 

The United States has come under attack from a mysterious source that is destroying our military bases. "Commando  Cody" believes the attack is coming from the moon and plans to go there to discover who is behind the attacks.





Arriving on the moon, "Cody" is met by a "Moon Tank" that he must battle. Afterwards he finds the "Ruler of the Moon" is a person called "Retik".








The Lydecker Brothers created the above "Moon Tank", from the Atlantean Tank they found in disuse since 1936. The original vehicle, by the Brothers, was in the serial "Undersea Kingdom", and looked like the following at that time.







"Cody" is taken prisoner and "Retik" reveals his plans to conqueror the Earth and then move the Moon's population there. 





Our hero escapes and in his rocket ship returns to Earth and the battle begins in earnest for the next Eleven Chapters.



Meanwhile, the Moon agent "Krog" arrives on Earth and sets up operations. The above still of "Retik" shows him making contact with "Krog". Who has a similar receiving and sending set. "Krog" employees "Graber" and "Daly" to  help "Retik" conqueror the Earth.



Later in the serial, "Commando Cody" discovers "Krog's" base of operations and meets the "Famous Republic Pictures Robot". The robot was also, originally, from 1936's "Undersea Kingdom", and had been used in several of the studio's cliff-hangers prior to this one.




Meanwhile, "Gruber" and "Daly" use a "Lunarium-powered Ray Cannon" to destroy military bases and fight "Commando Cody's" rocket ship and the flying hero himself.






"Cody" and his crew return to the Moon. Where they encounter the "Radar Men" in their  rocket ship. The "Radar Men" seem to be wearing either the space suits seen in 1950's "Destination Moon", or 1951's "Flight to Mars". Depending upon whose blog article you read.





Above "Destination Moon" and below "Flight to Mars".




Correct answer:
Both  "Flight to Mars" and "Radar Men from the Moon" used the space suits from George Pal's, "Destination  Moon" with slight changes. The suits would also appear in 1953's 
"Abbott and Costello Go to Mars" and 1959's "Have Rocket Will Travel" with the Three Stooges.

"Cody" and "Ted" take the rocket ship back to the moon. The mission is to get one of "Retik's" ray guns to duplicate, leading to "Commander Cody" now being prepared for all out war.



Below the entire crew heads in the rocket ship to attack "Krog's" base.






Below "Cody" confronts "Krog", "Gruber", and "Daly". "Krog" will be killed by one of his own devices and the two other men escape.



"Gruber" and "Daly" believe themselves safe, but another car appears and starts pursuing the two. During the car chase the criminals go off a cliff to their deaths.

Although this lobby card for Chapter 12, called the final episode, "Take-Off To Eternity". On screen, Chapter 12 was entitled 'Death of the Moon Man". "Retik" had arrived on Earth only to find his plans have failed. Being pursued, he returns to his rocket ship and takes off for the Moon. As "Retik" speeds upwards, "Cody" takes the ray gun, used by "Gruber" and "Daly", and destroys the Moon ruler and his rocket ship.


Roy Barcroft followed being the "Ruler of the Moon" by portraying his so familiar "B" western role of, "Piute-Henchman", in "Captive of Billy the Kid", released on January 21, 1952. Like Barcroft's, 1946, "Alias Billy the Kid", starring Sunset Carson, this new motion picture starring Allan "Rocky" Lane, had nothing directly to do with Henry McCarthy aka: William H. Bonney aka: Billy the Kid. In the earlier film, "United States Marshall, Sunset Carson", implies that he is "The Kid", the first name of "Billy" is never mentioned by him. He is using that implied name to get in with the bad guys. 

In "Captive of Billy the Kid", none of the characters are actually a "Captive" of the title character. There are five people who have a part of a map to "Billy the Kid's" buried treasure and are being killed off, one by one. While, "United States Marshall Rocky Lane" has a plan to identify the murderer.






 


























Eight westerns and one gangster picture later, found Roy Barcroft as another space invader. Who has an unusual plan for the Earth, but the cliff-hanger is remembered mainly for an 8th-billed actor,

ZOMBIES OF THE STRATOSPHERE Chapter One released on July 16, 1952






This was planned as the next "Commander Cody" entry, but at the last minute, somebody decided to change the names on the screenplay.

Judd Holdren was to have portrayed Commander Cody", but he became "Larry Martin". The previous year he had the title role in a "Columbia Pictures" cliff-hanger based upon both a popular radio and television program in 1951's, "Captain Video Master of the Stratosphere". My article is "Judd Holdren: Commando Cody Sky Marshall of the Universe 2.0" racing through the stratosphere at:


























Aline Towne was back not as "Joan Gilbert", but now "Sue Davis". She just had 9th-billing in the film-noir, 1952's, "Confidence Girl", that starred both the brother of George Sanders, Tom Conway, 1956's, "The She-Creature", and Hillary Brookes, 1953's, "Invaders from Mars".



























Lane Bradford portrayed "Marex". Bradford started on-screen in a 1940 "B" Western as a "Cowhand". Like Roy Barcroft, he would be known for portraying the bad guy in "B" Westerns and a "Hoodlum" in Detective dramas.

























Above, Lane Bradford is seen on the right talking to his assistant, "Narab", portrayed by the 8th-billed actor in only his 5th-on-screen role, Leonard Nimoy.

My reader has to go to the list of uncredited actors to find the name of Roy Barcroft. I could not locate any photo's of him, but he had two uncredited roles. In Chapters 1 and 11, he was the "Central Control Rado Operator", in Chapter 4, the viewer didn't see Barcroft, but he was the voice of "Ross".


A Very Basic Overview for this Article:

The Martians, there are no Zombies, "Marex" and "Narab", have come to Earth to plant a strategically located H-Bomb to move the Earth out of its orbit. So that Mars can be moved to the favorable Earth orbit and save the dying Martian race. It's up to "Larry Martin" and his team to stop the two martians and their human accomplice, "Dr. Harding", portrayed by Stanley Waxman, and his hirelings, "Roth", portrayed by John Crawford,  and "Shane", portrayed by the uncredited Ray Boyle. All three have been promised to be moved to Mars, before the Hydrogen bomb goes off.




























Seven westerns and a Navy comedy, returned Roy Barcroft, or his voice to:

COMMANDO CODY: SKY MARSHALL OF THE UNIVERSE Chapter One released on February 17, 1953




Judd Holdren now portrayed "Commando Cody". Between his two cliff-hangers, Holdren appeared in "Tall, Dark, and Dead", Season One, Episode Twenty-five, of "Craig Kennedy, Criminologist", starring Donald Woods.

Aline Towne was back to portraying "Joan Gilbert". She had just appeared on her third episode of television's "Gang Busters", about Alvin Karpis".

Richard Crane portrayed "Dick Preston". Crane had just had the role of "Jack Autry" aka: "Jack Austin", in the Gene Autry, 1953, western, "Winning of the West", co-starring the 1954 through 1957, television, "Annie Oakley", Gail Davis. My article is "Richard Crane: 'Rocky Jones Space Ranger' and 'The Alligator People" at:




































Above, Judd Holdren, Aline Towne, and Richard Crane


Gregory Gaye portrayed "The Ruler". Russian born Gaye played many a Nazi villain during World War 2 and played a banker in 1942's, "Casablanca", that is refused help by Humphrey Bogart. Gaye's later film work included the, 1950, "Cliff-Hanger", "Flying Disc Man from Mars",
1951's, "The Magic Carpet", starring Lucille Ball and John Agar, the early, radio-based television series, "Terry and the Pirates", and producer Sam Katzman's, 1955, "Creature with the Atom Brain", starring Richard Denning.




Roy Barcroft had the uncredited role of the "Voice of the Point Barrow Radioman".

The backstory is in my "Rocket Man" article. This cliff-hanger was actually supposed to be a television series. The basic plot has "The Ruler" causing major disasters on Earth from his base on Venus. "Commando Cody" and his team leave Earth to find out who causing them and ends with the "Queen of Mercury", below, portrayed by Joanne Jordon, helping with the capture of "The Ruler".






















Speaking of television programing, starting with Season Three, Episode Five, "Law of Boot Hill", on "The Adventures of Kit Carson", August 29, 1953, starring Bill Williams. Roy Barcroft made the transition to television westerns. In that episode, he had 4th-billing portraying "Bud Harley". His brother "Kirk Hadley", was portrayed by Lee Van Cleef. Roy Barcroft would appear in two other episodes during that season.

On January 9, 1954, Season Two, Episode Seventeen, "The Boy Who Hated Superman", on "The Adventures of Superman", Roy Bancroft portrayed "Duke".
























"The Adventures of Superman" was followed on March 5, 1954, with an appearance on William Boyd's,  "Hopalong Cassidy" television program in "Masquerade for Matilda", Season Two, Episode Twenty-two, portraying "Constable Tom Gorham". 




















The actor continued to appear in 4 western movies, 2 crimes dramas, and 2 television crime shows into late 1955. Then came a slight change of pace by portraying a "Marshall", but in a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical motion picture and singing in the chorus.

OKLAHOMA the road show engagement opened on October 11, 1955



Above the Hollywood newspaper ad to purchase tickets for the "Todd A-O" road show engagement of "Oklahoma". Below, the Italian poster for the "Todd A-O" version with the complete main cast shot, on the left, is Roy Barcroft. 





























8-days-before the roadshow premier of "Oklahoma", a program premiered on television that would change the "bad-guy-henchman-image" of Roy Barcroft to millions of young television viewers and their families. Leonard Maltin, would write for the "Walt Disney Treasures" "Spin and Marty" release, that Roy Barcroft - - -

- - - had a reputation as one of the nicest guys in Hollywood

THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB premiered on the "American Broadcasting Company (ABC)", October 3, 1955




My article is "M. I. C. K. E. Y.  M. O. U. S. E.': Walt Disney's Original Mickey Mouse Club, 1955 To 1959: 'An Honorary Mouseketeer In Good Standing' Remembers" at:


On November 4, 1955, during that days episode of the "Mickey Mouse Club". The "Introductory Special Episode" of the actual 25-episode mini-series, "THE ADVENTURES OF SPIN AND MARTY", was shown. "Marty" tells the viewers about the program with clips from the upcoming series. "Marty" was joined by "Spin" at the end, to tell the viewers that the actual series started the following week.

The series was set at a boys summer camp and working ranch called "The Triple R Ranch". There were six main characters in the first of the "Spin and Marty Tales".

Roy Barcroft portrayed "Colonel Jim Logan", the owner of the "Triple R Ranch". 

Harry Carey, Jr. portrayed "Bill Burnett", the boys camp counselor. The son of one of the legendary western actors, Harry Carey. Junior appeared in many of his father's drinking buddy, director John Ford's, films. As such, he became best friends with his father and character actor/drama teacher Paul Fix's, also a John Ford drinking buddy, protege, John Wayne. Together, the two appeared in director John Ford's "Cavalry Trilogy", 1948's, "3 Godfathers", "and 1956's, "The Searchers".


























Tim Considine portrayed "Spin Evans". Timothy Daniel Considine started on-screen in the Red Skelton comedy, 1953's, "The Clown", and for Walter Elias Disney appeared in more than the "Spin and Marty Tales". He was in two other "Mickey Mouse Club" mini-series, both about "The Hardy Boys" with Tommy Kirk, and the original, 1959, "The Shaggy Dog", also with Kirk. Besides acting, Considine would become an automotive historian, and photographer. 

David Stollery portrayed "Martin 'Marty' Markham". David John Stollery III started on-screen in the Bing Crosby musical version of American author Mark Twain's, 1949, "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court". For Walt Disney, besides the "Spin and Marty Tales", he was in 1956's, "Westward Ho the Wagons", starring Fess Parker and 1960, "Ten Who Dared". Stollery would stopped acting and would become an industrial designer.























Above left, David Stollery and Tim Considine


J. Pat O'Malley portrayed "Perkins". The Broadway stage actor started on-screen in 1941, for Disney, other than the "Spin and Marty Tales", my readers has unknowingly heard in voice in 1949's, "The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad", 1951's, "Alice in Wonderland", 1961's, "One Hundred and One Dalmatians", 1967's, "The Jungle Book", and 1973's, "Robin Hood". As a, on-seen actor, he was in Walt Disney's, 1964's, "Mary Poppins" and provided some of the animated voices also.























Above, Harry Carey, Jr. and J. Pat O'Malley


Leonard "Lennie" "P. Geer portrayed "Ollie". Geer was both a stunt man and actor and started his stunt career in the "B" cowboy picture, 1952s, "Wyoming Roundup", starring the forgotten Whip Wilson, born Roland Charles Meyers, and Phyllis Coates. Greer's acting career started in 1950, in the cliff-hanger, "Cody of the Pony Express", portraying an "Indian". Leonard Geer portrayed the real-life, "J. A. Wilson", in Walt Disney's, 1956, "The Great Locomotive Chase". For 1950's, science fiction/horror fans, look for Leonard Geer in both 1957's, "Zombies of Mara Tau" and "The Giant Claw". In 1978, he provided several voices for director and animator, Ralph Bakshi's, excellent and somewhat overlooked, "The Lord of the Rings".






















The original novel was by Lawrence Edward Watkin, 1942's, "Mary Markham". His screenplays, besides co-writing the first actual episode of "Spin and Marty. Where for Walt Disney, 1950's, "Treasure Island", 1952's, "The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men", 1953's, "The Sword and the Rose", and 1954's, "Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue". My article is "Walt Disney's Four British Tax Feature Films (1950 to (1953)" to be read about at:


Jackson Gills wrote all the remaining 24-episodes. Gills was a television teleplay writer and among his work are 2-episodes of Walt Disney's, "Zorro", and both "Hardy Boys" mini-series. Along with 15-episodes of "The Adventures of Superman", 11-episodes of "Lassie", and co-writing 53-episodes of "Perry Mason".

The Basic Teleplay:

"Marty" comes to the "Triple R Ranch", unlike every other boy. In his case he arrives in a limousine with his butler, "Perkins", and an upper class attitude that will get him into trouble with the other boys. "Perkins" has been instructed to stay with "Marty" through the summer and becomes the assistant cook for the "Triple R".










































































By the mini-series end on December 9, 1955, "Marty" will have overcome his fear of horses, by the help of ranch hand "Ollie. He will have gained both the respect of "Spin" and friendship, after the two have a boxing match that finally puts "Marty's" superior attitude to rest.





There is confusion over what was called "Spin and Marty: The Movie". As with previous mini-series by the Walt Disney organization, a feature length version of sequences were formed into a shorter movie version for "International Release". The classic Disney example compiled for "International Audiences" was from a four-part mini-series. Released on May 25, 1955, was "Davy Crocket, King of the Wild Frontier".






During the run of "Spin and Marty", Roy Barcroft appeared on 5-television shows, three of which are westerns, such as Gene Autry's, "The Adventures of Champion", and 4-movies, all westerns. Then for him, it was the:

FURTHER ADVENTURES OF SPIN AND MARTY on November 15, 1956. This episode was a recap told by "Marty" of the previous series. Next, on the following day the first of the new series's 22-episodes began.

Besides Roy Barcroft, returning were, Harry Carey, Jr., Tim Considine, David Stollery, J. Pat O'Malley, and Leonard Geer. However, this story involved a girl's ranch style camp, the "Circle H",  and that meant adding cast members. 










































The main new role went to a "Mouseketeer" that many a young boy, yours truly included, had a crush on, Annette Joanne Funicello. Apparently, "The Mickey Mouse Club" is not considered by the website "IMDb" as an acting credit, according to that website Annette's first on-screen acting credit was this mini-series. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002088/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t4 

Looking at the credits for "The Further Adventures of Spin and Marty", Annette Funicello portrayed "Annette".












Kevin Corcoran portrayed "Moochie". In 1954, at age four, Kevin Corcoran first appeared on screen in "The Glenn Miller Story". On November 5, 1956, an educational 8-episode mini-series on the "Mickey Mouse Club", "Adventures in Dairyland", premiered. "Mouseketeer's" Annette Funicello and Sammy Ogg visit a fictional Wisconsin dairy farm. There they meet the youngest son of the "McCandles" family, "Moochie", and the nickname stayed for a while with Kevin. However, in Walt Disney's, 1957, "Old Yeller", he was "Arliss Coates". Then for Disney's, 1959, "The Shaggy Dog", his character was "Montgomery Daniels", but is called "Moochie". This was broken with the title role in Walt Disney's, 1960's, "Toby Tyler, or Ten Weeks with a Circus", followed by "Francis Robinson" in Disney's, 1960, "Swiss Family Robinson", and he portrayed "Boy Blue", in Walt's version of the Victor Herbert operetta, 1961's, "Babes in Toyland". Technically, "Moochie" was never an actual member of the "Mickey Mouse Club", but the following picture seems to imply otherwise. I could not locate a shot of him in "Spin and Marty".





Next, Roy Barcroft found himself in an episode of Gail Davis's television series, "Annie Oakley", and future member of the musical group, "The Monkees", Micky Dolenz's television series, "Circus Boy", and "The Lone Ranger". Followed by:

THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SPIN AND MARTY on November 5, 1957, in which both previous mini-series were recapped. This was the longest of the three "Spin and Marty Tales", at a total of 29-episodes.

Returning for this last mini-series were Roy and Harry Carey, Jr.







Tim Considine and David Stolley.





J. Pat O'Malley was back.



 
Annette Funicello was back, in 1958 her 19-episode "Mickey Mouse Club" mini-series "Annette" was shown, and in 1963, she would team-up with Frankie Avalon for the first "Beach Party" movie. Under contract to Walt Disney, he forbid Annette to be on screen in a bikini, because it showed too much of her and had a sexual implication. So, for Annette to appear in the movie, she had to wear a one-piece bathing suit and that backed fired on Walt. With all the other girls in bikini's, the one piece brought more attention to Annette's body. My article is "THE GHOST OF DRAGSTRIP HOLLOW MEETS THE GIRL IN THE INVISIBLE BIKINI: The Story of the BEACH PARTY Motion Pictures" surfing the waves at:






Kevin Corcoran returned as "Moochie". 


























Walt Disney thought if one of the girl "Mouseketeers" was a good thing, two would be even better. Enter Darlene  Gillespie portraying "Darlene". Darlene would have her own mini-series "Corkey and White Shadow", about a young girl and her dog. The series is mentioned in my article "The Mystery of 'Sky King's' Dog: Remembering the Dog Stars of 1950's Hollywood" barking their lines at:































Next, Roy Barcroft followed that last "Spin and Marty Tale", with the western television series "Colt .45". Which was then followed, in order, by appearances on "The Sheriff of Cochise", "Casey Jones", "Cheyenne", "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp", and "Maverick" on November 16, 1958.

In fact, being a "B" western bad guy during the 1950's was a perfect means of television income. At one point, if you had enough television sets, 46-television-westerns were on the air during one-week alone!
My article is "HI HO SILVER, AWAY: The 1950's, When WESTERNS Dominated the Airwaves" galloping along at:



Between that episode of televisions "Maverick", and the Walt Disney motion, 1960's, "Ten Who Dared", about the first expedition down the entire length of the Colorado River. Roy Barcroft appeared  on 21-different television program and 16 were westerns. During that same period he also appeared in one motion picture, a western, 1959's, "Escort West".

Roy Barcroft's television and motion picture career would continue for another Ten-Years. His last appearance was with full credit at 30th-billing in a role described simply as "Proprietor", in the Lee Marvin, "Monte Walsh", a western released first in Milan, Italy, on September 26, 1970. Sadly he had passed away eleven-months-earlier, on November 28, 1969, in Woodland Hills, a suburb of Los Angeles.


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