Covered Wagon DaysRepublic release of Harry Grey production. Directed by George Sherman. Original screenplay by Earle Snell. Photography William Nobles; editor Bernard Loftus; musical score Cy Feuer. Completed March 20, 1940. Running time 56 minutes. Weekly Variety: ‘Covered Wagon Days’ is a westerner without a covered wagon among other technical flaws. However, this Republic pic, another in the series featuring the Three Mesquiteers, has enough action to satisfy the hoss opry diehards, particularly the kids, who won’t be so discriminating. As a dualer that will reap some profit, it’s up to the standard of the series. Livingston, Hatton and Renaldo are again the Mesquiteers, managing to find themselves embroiled, as usual, in situations more directly involving others. This time they manage to upset a silver smuggling scheme, and in turn vindicate the brother of Renaldo, who had been framed in the murder of his uncle. George Sherman has directed at a speedy pace, while the story has a number of familiar situations that are, however, eclipsed to a great extent by the gun and fist slinging. The three give their standard performances, which are pleasant enough, while Kay Griffith, Paul Marion and Ruth Robinson, particularly the latter as the mother, are satisfactory support.
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