Keith Larsen plays Maj. Robert Rogers; Buddy Ebsen is his sidekick Hunk, and they dream of mapping a northwest route across the continent of North America.
But first, there’s the French and Indian War to deal with, specifically an Algonquin chief named Black Wolf (Larry Chance).
He’s launched a series of ambushes against the British that are so well planned and so well timed, Rogers is sure he’s getting information from a spy operating from inside the British camp.
Meanwhile, word reaches Rogers that a handsome newcomer have arrived on the post and is currently engaged painting a portrait of Elizabeth Brannen, Rogers’ fiance.
Well, Rogers has been looking for a map maker for that Northwest expedition, so he and Hunk kidnap Harvard-educated Langdon Towne (Don Burnett), enlist him in the Rangers and begin his training.
There will be detours along the way as Rogers tries to confirm his suspicions that a man named Rivas is the aforementioned spy and begins planning a campaign against Black Wolf’s camp.
He also comes to the rescue of a damsel in distress named Rose Carver (Angie Dickinson), who reports that a wildnerness innkeeper is buying indentured servants, then selling them into forced marriages.
She escaped his grasp. But the innkeeper and his wife still have her sister. Rose fears she’ll be the next to be married for a bundle of furs.
Keith Larsen as Maj. Robert Rogers, wondering how Hunk managed to lose his uniform in Frontier Rangers (1959)
Buddy Ebsen as Sgt. Hunk Marriner, about to go undercover in Frontier Rangers (1959)
Review:
This film was stitched together from three episodes of the TV series Northwest Rangers, which ran for one season (26 30-minute episodes) in 1958-59.
The middle segment features the best known guest stars — Angie Dickinson as an indentured servant, Claude Akins as the trapper who “marries” her and Emile Meyer as the innkeeper who sells her into marriage.
Lisa Gaye plays a recurring charter, Natula, a white woman who was captured by the Indians at age 3 and is now in love with Black Wolf.
The third segment borrows heavily on stock footage from King Vidor’s classic 1940 film “Northwest Passage.” Lisa Davis is Elizabeth, Robert Rogers’ gal, though she appears just briefly in this film.
Touches of humor let you know that this was a series that didn’t take itself too seriously, which makes this easier to enjoy.
By no means classic, but Larsen does a decent job in the lead role, and it’s interesting to see Ebsen in the role of his sidekick, showing the comedic ability that would serve him so well on Beverly Hillbillies.
And, if nothing else, it’s better than the hokey theme song suggests it might be: “Injun, we are warning you / back on back we’re coming through / hands up high and power dry / do or die / make way for the rangers / tomahawk, tomahawk / here we come.”
Don Burnett as mapmaker Langdon ‘Harvard’ Towne, captives of the Algonquins in Frontier Rangers (1959)
Larry Chance as Black Wolf, an Algonquin chief and arch enemy of Maj. Rogers in Frontier Rangers (1959)
Directed by:
Jacques Tourneur
Cast:
Keith Larsen … Maj. Robert Rogers
Buddy Eben … Sgt. Hunk Marriner
Don Burnett … Langdon “Havard” Towne
Lisa Gaye … Natula
Larry Chance … Black Wolf
Angie Dickinson … Rose Carver
Pat Hogan … Rivas
Lisa Davis … Elizabeth Brannen
Claude Akins … Caleb Brandt
Emile Meyer … Ben Klagg
Runtime: 83 min.
Angie Dickinson as Rose Carver, an indentured servent rescued from forced marriage in Frontier Rangers (1959)
Lisa Gaye as Natula, the white woman raised by Indians and captured by Maj. Rogers in Frontier Rangers (1959)
Memorable lines:
Hunk to Maj. Rogers in reference to Rivas: “I don’t care if he did kill an Algonquin. I don’t trust that polecat farther than I could throw a buffalo.”
Havard, when the trio capture Natula: “Green eyes! She’s white.”
Hunk: “Outside maybe. Inside she’s all red hellion.”
Hunk to a servant girl in a tavern: “Pretty. Prettier than a barrell of skunk pelts.”
Hunk, during tomahawk practice: “Havard, you throw a hatchet like a female on her wedding night.”
Lisa Davis as Elizabeth Brannen, Maj. Rogers’ main squeeze in Frontier Rangers (1959)
Pat Hogan as Rivas, the gunsmith Maj. Rogers suspects of spying in Frontier Rangers (1959)
Emile Meyer as Ben Klagg with his wife, trying to figure out how to get all the money Hunk is carrying in Frontier Ranger (1959)
Rebecca Welles as Maureen Carver, Rose’s sister, sold into marriage again in Frontier Rangers (1959)
Claude Akins as Caleb Brandt, a trapper in the market for a pretty bride in Frontier Rangers (1959)
Buddy Ebsen as Sgt. Hunk Marriner and Keith Larsen as Maj. Robert Rogers, speculating about traitors in Frontier Rangers (1959)
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