View source for Phantom of the Plains

{{short description|1945 film by Lesley Selander}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Phantom of the Plains
| image =File:Phantom of the Plains.jpg
| caption =
| director = [[Lesley Selander]]
| producer = [[Louis Gray (producer)|Louis Gray]]
| writer = [[Earle Snell]] & [[Charles Kenyon]] ''(screenplay)''; [[Fred Harman]] ''(based on characters created in the comic strip)''
| narrator =
| starring = [[Wild Bill Elliott]]
| music = [[Richard Cherwin]]
| cinematography = [[William Bradford (cinematographer)|William Bradford]]
| editing = [[Charles Craft]]
| distributor = [[Republic Pictures]]
| released = {{Film date|1945}}
| runtime = 66 minutes ''(original run time)''
| country = United States
| language = English
}}
'''''Phantom of the Plains''''' is a 1945 American [[Western (genre)|Western]] film directed by [[Lesley Selander]] starring [[Wild Bill Elliott]] in the role of [[Red Ryder]] and costarring as Little Beaver, actor ''(Bobby)'' [[Robert Blake (actor)|Robert Blake]].<ref>Miller, Don, Hollywood Corral, ''Red Ryder Series'', Popular Library, New York, 1976, pp. ASIN: B0006CQOWK.</ref><ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037986/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt ''The Phantom of the Plains'' 1945, Internet Movie Database]</ref> It was the ninth of 23 'Red Ryder' feature films that would be produced by [[Republic Pictures]].<ref>Copeland, Bobby. Bill Elliott - ''The Peaceable Man''. Empire Publishing, Inc., Madison, North Carolina, 2000, p. 139, ASIN: B00Z8EHHHM.</ref> The picture was shot on the studio’s back lot along with outdoor locations at [[Iverson Ranch]] in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, CA, USA.<ref>[http://www.b-westerns.com/elliott4.htm ''The Old Corral B-Westerns'']</ref>
==Plot==
[[Red Ryder]] ''([[Wild Bill Elliott]])'' and Little Beaver ''([[Robert Blake (actor)|Robert Blake]]) ''return to Blue Springs of 1895, only to discover that the Duchess ''([[Alice Fleming]])'', Red’s aunt, is preparing to sell her stage coach line and marry an Englishman, Talbot Champneys ''([[Ian Keith]])''. Unbeknownst to them, Champneys is really a conman named Fancy Charlie, who has made a career of marrying rich women and then killing them for their money. The Duchess’ other suitors [[Earle Hodgins]] and [[Tom London]] are unhappy when her engagement to Champneys aka Fancy Charlie is announced.
Red meets Champneys at the Duchess’ ranch where he also meets Fancy Charlie’s confederate, Celeste ''([[Virginia Christine]])'', who poses as a couturiere. The outlaws, Ace Hanlon ''([[William Haade]])'' and Pete Burdet ''([[Bud Geary]])'' appear suddenly at the ranch to greet Champneys. Champneys is surprised to see them because Burdet was once Fancy Charlie’s cellmate. Burdet has tipped off Ace Hanlon and now both of them want to be cut in on Fancy Charlie’s deal and share in the Duchess’ fortune. Charlie refuses, and Burdett starts beating on him when Red arrives and captures Burdett, but misses Hanlon, who flees in time to escape. Charlie asks Red to let Burdet go, explaining that he is merely an acquaintance who cheated him in a poker game. Red is reluctant to comply, but does so when Charlie insists.
Red remains concerned about his aunt but acquiesces to her demands but when he later sees Champneys mistreating Thunder ''(Red’s horse)'', Red intercedes and knocks him down. He decides to investigate and secretly wires the British consul for information about Champneys.
Afraid that Red will ruin his plans, Charlie finally decides to offer Hanlon and Burdett a 50% share of his profits if they get ride of Red and Little Beaver. Charlie then proceeds to inform the Duchess that he must return to England immediately and wants her to go with him so they can be married along the way. She agrees to go despite Red's strenuous objections. Charlie smiles, knowing that he has fully persuaded the Duchess to return to England with him and to bring her money with her. They agree to meet at the railroad station.
In the meantime, Celeste overhears Red and Little Beaver talking about picking up the reply from the British consul. Hanlon and Burdett are notified and make preparation to capture the two at the telegraph office. Red and Little Beaver are held prisoner overnight and the next morning, Charlie taunts them by congratulating Red on seeing through his disguise and charade, but then assures the red-headed cowboy that the Duchess will soon be dead.
Ace Hanlon suspects that Fancy Charlie might double cross him and Burdet; so, instead of killing Red and Little Beaver, they plan to keep them alive, until after the Duchess is killed. Fortunately, Red and Little Beaver cleverly escape and rush to stop Fancy Charlie and save the Duchess. They arrive just in time. Ace Hanlon, Burdet, and Fancy Charlie escape, feeling out of town on a stagecoach. Red leaps into the saddle and he and Thunder race after them.
In what is arguably one of motion picture’s most exciting stagecoach chases, Red finally manages to shoo Burdett and overcomes Hanlon in a fight.
Fancy Charlie is captured and his nefarious plot is exposed. He is on the way to jail, but not before the Duchess hits him square in the face with their wedding cake.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037986/plotsummary?ref_=tt_stry_pl Plot Summary, Phantom of the Plains (1945)]</ref><ref>Drew, Bernard A.; Red Ryder and Little Beaver: ''Painted Valley Troubleshooters''. BearManor Media, Albany, Georgia, 2013, pp. 81-92. ASIN: B00YDJDO6G.</ref><ref>[http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/81707/Lone-Texas-Ranger/ Phantom of the Plains (1945) ''(Overview)'', Turner Classic Movies]</ref>
==Cast==
*[[Wild Bill Elliott]] as Red Ryder
*[[Robert Blake (actor)|Robert Blake]] as Little Beaver
*[[Alice Fleming]] as The Duchess (Red's Aunt)
*[[Ian Keith]] as Talbot Wilberforce Champneys, aka Fancy Charlie
*[[William Haade]] as Ace Hanlon
*[[Virginia Christine]] as Celeste
*[[Bud Geary]] as Henchman Pete Burdette
*Henry Hall as Banker Jim
*[[Fred Graham (actor)|Fred Graham]] as Henchman Chuck
*[[Jack Kirk]] as Sheriff Jack Rockwell
*[[Jack Rockwell]] as Stage Driver Buck
*Bob Burns as Townsman (uncredited)
*[[Neal Hart]] as Townsman (uncredited)
*[[Earle Hodgins]] as Duchess Suitor (uncredited)
*[[Tom London]] as Duchess Suitor (uncredited)
*[[Rose Plumer]] as Townswoman (uncredited)
*Jack Tornek as Townsman (uncredited)
==Production==
''Phantom of the Plains'' (1945) was based on the characters created in [[Fred Harman]]’s comic strip, [[Red Ryder]].<ref>Drew, Bernard A., Red Ryder and Little Beaver: ''Painted Valley Troubleshooters''. BearManor Media, Albany, Georgia, 2013, pp. 81-92. ASIN: B00YDJDO6G.</ref><ref>''Overview Phantom of the Plains (1945)'', [[Turner Classic Movies]] [http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/86601/Phantom-of-the-Plains/]</ref> The film premiered in Los Angeles on September 7, 1945.<ref>Copeland, Bobby. Bill Elliott - ''The Peaceable Man''. Empire Publishing, Inc., Madison, North Carolina, 2000, p. 139, ASIN: B00Z8EHHHM.</ref> It was later re-released on August 4, 1949.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037986/releaseinfo?ref_=ttrel_ql_2 ''Phantom of the Plains (1945) Release Information'' IMDb]</ref>
===Stunts===
*[[Bud Geary]]
*[[Tom Steele (actor)|Tom Steele]]
*[[Dale Van Sickel]]
*Henry Wills
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20151108021410/http://www.b-westerns.com/rryder.htm ''Red Ryder'', The Old Corral]
*[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037986/ Phantom of the Plains (1945), IMDb]
*[http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/86601/ Phantom-of-the-Plains (1945), Turner Classic Movies]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006N2ESM Phantom of the Plains ''(Red Ryder and Little Beaver)''] at [[Amazon.com]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Phantom of the Plains}}
[[Category:1945 films]]
[[Category:1945 Western (genre) films]]
[[Category:Films set in 1895]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Republic Pictures films]]
[[Category:American Western (genre) films]]
[[Category:Films based on American comics]]
[[Category:Films based on comic strips]]
[[Category:Films directed by Lesley Selander]]
[[Category:1940s English-language films]]
[[Category:1940s American films]]
[[Category:Red Ryder films]]