JohnHowardReid
Charles Starrett (Tom Garfield), Marjorie Cooley (Judith Burnside), Bruce Bennett (Frank Garfield), William Pawley (Chris Matson), Don Beddoe (Forsyth), George Cleveland (Bill Burnside), Forrest Taylor (sheriff), William A. Kellogg (deputy), Bob Nolan (Bob), Francis Walker (Bat), Eddie Laughton (Poke), Vestor Pegg (Kennedy), Bud Osborne (Wilson), Frank Ellis (settler), Ted Mapes (stunt double for Charles Starrett), and the Sons of the Pioneers: Bob Nolan, Pat Brady, Hugh Farr, Carl Farr, Lloyd Perryman.Director: RALPH CEDER. Screenplay: Paul Franklin. Photography: George Meehan. Film editor: Charles Nelson. Music director: Morris W. Stoloff. Songs by Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer. Stunts: Francis Walker. Assistant director: Wilbur McGaugh. Associate producer: Leon Barsha.Copyright 29 June 1940 by Columbia Pictures Corp. No New York opening. U.S. release: 21 October 1940. 57 minutes. U.K. release title: The SHOWDOWN.SYNOPSIS: Settlers battle with land-grabbers.NOTES: Starrett's 37th western.COMMENT: Quite passable "B" western. The direction is efficient - at times even a trifle imaginative (the first encounter with Chris Matson - so skilfully played by William Pawley - with his back to Starrett; the climax with the ticking clock). And there is enough action to get by, though the script is inclined to be talky and there is far too much footage inside some very cheep and cheesy studio interiors. The songs. alas, are also mediocre.
