Riders of Destiny *** (1933, John Wayne, Cecilia Parker, Forrest Taylor, George ‘Gabby’ Hayes, Al St John) – Classic Movie Review 7128

The 26-year-old John Wayne plays ‘Singin’ Sandy’ Saunders (but dubbed, with the singing voice courtesy of Smith Ballew), a singing undercover US Government agent who battles against stagecoach robbing villains, and in particular bad guy James Kincaid (Forrest Taylor), in writer-director Robert N Bradbury’s effective one-hour time-passer and programme-filler (okay, it is only 53 minutes).

Riders of Destiny boasts lots of action and stunts by the best man in the business, Yakima Canutt, who also plays a henchman and is particularly good in the climactic punch-up with Wayne.

Wayne was neither the first singing cowboy (that was Ken Maynard in the 1929 film The Wagon Master) nor the best (that was Gene Autry), but there is plenty of fun to be had watching the Duke doowop a tune or two, albeit dubbed singing that bears no resemblance to his speaking voice.

The cast includes George ‘Gabby’ Hayes as Charlie Denton in his first pairing with Wayne and the acrobatic comedian Al St John as henchman Bert. Also supporting Wayne are Cecilia Parker as Fay Denton, Forrest Taylor as James Kincaid, Heinie Conklin as henchman Elmer, Earl Dwire as Slip Morgan, Lafe McKee as Sheriff Bill Baxter, Addie Foster as Mrs Mason, Silver Tip Baker as townsman, Horace B Carpenter as rancher, and William Dyer as rancher.

Riders of Destiny is directed by Robert N Bradbury, runs 53 minutes, is made by Lone Star, released by Monogram, is written by Robert N Bradbury, is shot in black and white by Archie J Stout and is produced by Paul Malvern.

John Wayne as Singin’ Sandy in Riders of Destiny (1933).

Wayne did not play Singin’ Sandy again but he did play a singing cowboy again in Lawless Range (1935). But Wayne, who of course could not sing as requested during publicity appearances and felt shamed, soon abandoned the singing cowboy format and the studio chose Gene Autry as his replacement.

Riders of Destiny is available for free download at the Internet Archive:

https://archive.org/details/RidersofDestiny_

It is followed by Wayne in Sagebrush Trail (1933).

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7128

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