You know the type of BB gun that Ralphie wants in A Christmas Story? This is a serial based on the Red Ryder character (from a comic) that the BB gun is a tie in for. The comic was also the source of several feature films as well a well loved TV show. The plot concerns Red Ryder, Little Beaver and their friends fighting some land speculators who are forcibly buying up all the land along a proposed railroad route. Its one of the better Western serials that any of the studios cranked out with all of the action and excitement that you'd expect. To be honest I'm not a huge western serial fan because there is really a limit as to what you can use as a cliffhanger and in order for me to really like a western serial it has to take what is well worn and dress it up in some way. This serial does just that thanks to really good characters and actors to bring them alive. There is a reason that Don Barry was nicked name "red" after portraying the character, namely he's really good. What really helps as well is that the production is first rate with the serial looking more like what would be one of the better western TV show from the 1950's (which isn't surprising since many serial makers and studios jumped into TV with both feet). It maybe corny but if you're going to see one western serial, this is the one to see. (and watch to see how a clearly adult rider does all the riding for the young boy Little Beaver)

While the plot is old hash today( most notably Blazing Saddles) it was OK in l940. I am still haunted by the tragic later life of Don Barry. He was really talented and lifted this Saturday western serial genre to another level, although the supporting cast of Republic regulars were top notch thespians. As always, the sound track music(OL Sussana) was superior to anything Hollywood had to offer, and for me, added greatly to the action. I though Barry handled certain scenes as well as James Cagney in The Oklahoma Kid( avenging a father's death down to the last man) Although he had reached the age of 70, Barry was still trying to salvage his image when he shot himself in the presence of police apparently following a domestic quarrel. The great Burt Lancaster, it seems, had been trying to help him. Considering that for twenty nine westerns he was paid between one and two hundred thousand dollars by Republic and had many many parts into the TV era, we ordinary folk must wonder what these people do with their money. But the magic of today's technology enables us to see them at their very best, thank heaven.

"The Adventures of Red Ryder" was adapted from a popular comic strip of the day by Fred Harmon. It was acquired by studio chief Herbert J. Yates with Don Barry in mind for the lead. Although Barry in no way resembled the tall lean character of the comics, Yates nevertheless "insisted" that Barry play the part. Yates probably had in mind that Barry was similar in height and build to Republic's ace stunt man Dave Sharpe. Sharpe in fact performs many of his trademark acrobatic stunts in the picture. The plot is that old chestnut about the bad guys driving all of the local ranchers off of their properties so that they will hold title to all of the land for the right of way for the incoming railroad. The only ranch standing in their way is the Circle "R" owned by Colonel Tom Ryder (William Farnum) and his son "Red" (Barry). When Red's father is murdered he sets out to avenge his death and uncover the people behind all of the trouble. The town's "respectible" banker, Calvin Drake (Harry Worth) appears to want to help the ranchers but in fact is the brains behind the troublemakers. Assisting him is saloon owner "Ace" Hanlon (Noah Berry Sr.) and his gang. Over the course of the serial, Red manages many narrow escapes from sure death and brings all of the bad guys to justice by the end of the last chapter. Also in the cast are Tommy Cook as Little Beaver, Maude Pierce Allen as the Duchess, Vivian Coe (aka Austin) as the token heroine Beth, Hal Taliaferro as Cherokee, Bob Kortman as One Eye (looking as evil as ever with an eye patch), Carleton Young as Sheriff Drake, Ray Teal as Shark, Ed Brady as Ed Madison and Ed Cassidy and Billy Benedict as Ira and Dan Withers. If you blink you'll miss a very young Robert J. Wilke as a street heavy. The picture benefits from the excellent direction by Republic's ace action directors William Witney and John English. The stunt work was always the best in the business and most of the footage appears to be newly shot. In later serials and features, Republic relied heavily on stock footage. A case in point is the scene in the serial where a horseless stage coach goes off a washed out bridge. I recently saw that same scene in an episode of Republic's TV series "Stories of the Century" released in 1954. The serial also benefited from the casting of Barry in the lead. He was a much better actor than many of his contemporaries and this is evident in the scenes following the murder of his father and later of a close friend. You feel his anguish and know that the murderers will not get away with it. He also hated the nickname "Red" which stuck with him the rest of his life even though this was the only time he played the character. Republic followed this up with a Red Ryder series of features first with Bill Elliot and later with Allen Lane. Bobby Blake played Little Beaver in both. If you happen to get a copy of the DVD release, there are many excellent special features included. First, there's an interesting interview with Don Barry in which he discusses his career and gives us some stories from behind the scenes. There is also the TV pilot episode of a proposed Red Ryder TV series from 1955 with Allen Lane (billed as "Rocky"). It never sold. "The Adventures of Red Ryder" certainly is one of the best western serials ever made and I wouldn't be far out by placing in on the short list of all-time greatest serials from any genre.

If you love serials,this one belongs in your top ten.Directed by the ace team of Whitney and English,this production is first rate all the way.Red Ryder,played by Don Barry,seeks revenge against the outlaws that killed his father,and are grabbing all the ranches.There are no mystery villians,but with Noah Berry sr.,Harry Worth,and Bob Kortman leading the cast of heavies,who needs mystery men? Along with an exciting music score by Cy Feuer,and fine photography by William Nobles,this one is aces all the way. Note:This is on dvd and tape.The dvd has great picture and sound and lots of extra features.