Range DefendersRepublic release of Sol C. Siegel production. Directed by Mack V. Wright. Original screen story by Joseph Poland based on characters created by Wm Colt McDonald. Camera Jack Marta; editor Lester Orlebeck; musical supervisor Raoul Krauschaar; song Fleming Allan. Running time 56 minutes. Weekly Variety, July 14, 1937: Another chapter in the Three Mesquiteers’ series and a natural for juve matinees. Also satisfactory for adults who yen concentrated action. Hoss opry at its best. Story is in the usual western style, slight variation being the accent on the rivalry between the cowmen and the sheep-raisers. Usual amount of phoney mortgage foreclosures, crooked sheriffs and general human cussedness. Plot is kept logical, however, and an exceptional amount of excitement is hung on the standard frame work. Tension builds to a sock mass gunfight finale. Livingston, Corrigan and Terhune combine for strong personality and convincing he-man stuff. Unusual to find so much attempt at comedy, which is shrewdly kept broad and obvious. Terhune’s voice tossing supplies some funny sequences. Harry Woods is an okay bad man with satisfactory assistance from John Merton. Eleanor Stewart is far above the general run of western ingenues. Has looks, promising acting talent, though too much makeup and big-city clothes don’t help. Mack V. Wright’s direction enlivens the script. Jack Marta also rates a bow for his camera job.
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