Freaktana A Major Disappointment

BelSports This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Tayloriona Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Skyler Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

JohnHowardReid Sunset Carson (himself), Al Terry (Bob Ward), Pat Starling (Joan Carson), Dan White (sheriff), Bob Cason (Sam Webster), Pat Gleason (boxing referee), Buddy McDowell and the Rodeo Revelers (themselves), Stephen Keyes (Murdock, the foreman), Ron Ormond (Jim Pizer), Bill Vall (Slugger), Joe Hiser (Shorty), Bob Curtis (Tin-Cup), Forrest Matthews (Nevens), Don Gray (Rand), Dale Harrison (Tomkins).Director: OLIVER DRAKE. Screenplay: Elmer Clifton. Film editor: Ralph Dixon. Photographed in 16mm CineColor by Clark Ramsey. Music director: Frank Sanucci. Script supervisor: Pearl Leiter. Production assistant: D.A. Towne. Sound recording and technical supervision: Telefilm, Inc. Associate producer: Oliver Drake. Producer: Walt Mattox.Not copyrighted by Yucca Pictures. U.S. release through Astor: 10 September 1948. No recorded New York opening. No Australian theatrical release. 63 minutes. COMMENT: Not exactly the worst "B" western ever made, but for exactly half its length it certainly comes mighty close. Fortunately a marked improvement occurs in the boxing scene in which Al Terry and Bob Cason battle most convincingly, and Mr Bob Cason then carries the rest of the film through to a reasonably satisfactory conclusion. Mind you, Mr Sunset Carson is consistently awful, and the film is always wretchedly photographed, and production values are always minimal. "Yucca" is indeed a true description!But on the other hand, Miss Starling and Mr Terry are reasonably attractive leads, and even the comic relief cowpokes are genuinely funny at the halfway mark. Up to this point too, Mr Drake's "direction" has been struggling to achieve zero out of ten, but suddenly he shoots up to around two or three out of ten. On the whole, however, it's a rare western indeed in which the musical interludes rate higher (maybe two and a half) than the rest of its array of "entertainment".

classicsoncall The color format could have been good for bonus points but alas, the story is fairly typical for a B Western that almost tries to cram in too many plot elements for it's own good. Sunset Carson is intent on raising money to build a school for the local kids (funny, there wasn't one to be found throughout the story), while Eastern dude Bob Ward (Al Terry) has it in for Sunset for killing his father. Part of Sunset's fund raising plan was to promote a boxing match against Slugger Appolodamus (Bill Vall), but when the Slugger gets roughed up by henchman Murdock (Stephen Keyes), he trains young Ward to take his place.I got a kick out of Sunset's appearance when he entered the bunkhouse after saving Ward from a poisoned spring on the trail. He was so tall compared to the other players that his head was out of the frame. Shorty McDuff (Joe Hiser) sure lived up to his name as he almost looked like a midget next to the towering Carson. Earlier, when Sunset hoisted Ward over his shoulder for the ride back home, he mounted his horse without the slightest strain, which gives you a pretty good idea how strong he had to be to pull that off.On the flip side though, Carson exhibited a rather awkward fighting style each time he took up with the fisticuffs himself. His punches were generally wild and not well choreographed, seemingly out of character with someone who otherwise seemed athletic enough. Even so, I didn't understand why he didn't take part in the boxing match he promoted since he was the star of the show.Of course this won't be the first (or last) time you'll see the hero set up for robbing the locals, as chief villain Sam Webster (Bob Cason) sends his boys to waylay Sunset on the trail. Sunset's eventually cleared by a second letter Bob Ward has from his father, the first one implicating Carson in the elder Ward's murder. That whole business with the letters was just too clumsily written and managed to bother me throughout the story. Even with his instructions, why wouldn't Ward just open the second letter right away? It would have saved him a lot of grief.

froberts73 Ole Sunset Carson! The story opens as his acting coach rides into the sunset, shrugging his shoulders and mumbling, "I give up." To his credit, Carson looks good atop a horse. It's when he hits the ground and 'recites' his lines when things get rough.The 6'4" - er - actor stars in the color extravaganza along with a host of veteran performers who, in a way, acquit themselves fairly well. Best of 'em is co-star Al Terr, a New Yorker who probably learned to ride in Central Park. He is a Farley Granger lookalike.John Cason, the resident meanie, has been in many films and teevee shows, and the lovely Pat Starling has also been around. She had worked before with Sunset. She is a vision with a lovely voice and, speaking of music, the Rodeo Revelers provided the movie's highlight with some really good offerings.A big minus were the fight scenes. Very poor choreography. Guys are knocked down and out, and opponents responsible look like they're striking the air. There was a boxing scene involving Terr and Cason, however, that was well staged.Finally! I was prepared to thoroughly dislike the movie, a cheapie to end all cheapies, but as it went along I found it somewhat enjoyable - well - tolerable. I said tolerable not terrible.

rsoonsa A staggeringly corny work made with a miniscule budget, this is one of four westerns produced by deservedly little-known Yucca Pictures, and features glyphic Sunset Carson playing himself in his customary fashion, i.e., a discomposed delivery of dialogue when not sitting atop a horse - which he does with surety - the plot presenting Al Terry as Bob Ward (listed as Wade in the titular credits) seeking to avenge the murder of his father, apparently the work of the eponymous hero. Filmed in colour, uncommon for the period and genre, the movie is cumbered by pitiable production values, as well as possibly the most embarrassingly poor stunt work to be found in a professional effort, yet includes in its cast some capable character actors, including a winsome Pat Starling whose clear soprano graces a duet with Terry, and a viewer must be glad indeed that several musical novelty numbers are presented featuring gifted fiddler Buddy McDowell.