Someone is trying to shut down the Patterson Stage line by robbing its stages.
At least that’s the thinking of Glen Hayden (William Bishop), who happens to be aboard one of those stages, signs on as a driver, then begins investigating.
He quickly suspects a rival freight line run by Martin Maroon might be involved, an unhappy prospect since he takes an immediate liking to Maroon’s niece, Fran (Kathleen Crowley).
That puts him at odds with another stage driver, Tom Bradley, who figures to marry Fran and is acting mighty suspicious, too.
That said, Tom’s a man who hates violence. So much so that he drives the stage with an unloaded shotgun by his side.
Turns out that Maroon is fearful Patterson’s contract with Wells Fargo will put him out of business.
But he’s a clever villain. He even throws some of his business Patterson’s way to make himself look more like a friend than a foe.
Heck, his henchmen even use an armored, windowless stagecoach — the phantom stagecoach of the title — to pull some of their holdups.
William Bishop as Glen Hayden, running into immediate trouble aboard a Patterson stagecoach in The Phantom Stagecoach (1957)
Hugh Sandes as Martin Maroon, determined to put a rival stagecoach line out of business in The Phantom Stagecoach (1957)
Review:
Far short of great, but not as bad as the title might imply.
The film is marred by some silliness, like Maroon allowing Bradley to drive a lead wagon after he’s lost faith in him. And like the entire Maroon gang losing track of the captured sheriff after he’s uncovered their skullduggery.
The smoky voiced Crowley makes for a feisty leading lady. A former Miss America contestant and busy TV actress, most of her feature films were Westerns, beginning with a supporting role in 1953’s “The Silver Whip.”
This marked a rare starring hero role for Bishop. His first credited role was as a supporting player in 1947’s “The Romance of Rosy Ridge.” He died of cancer at age 41, two years after this film was released.
Kathleen Crowley as Fran Maroon, niece of freight business owner Martin Maroon in The Phantom Stagecoach (1957)
Richard Webb as Tom Bradley, a Patterson driving feeding Maroon information, partly because he hopes to marry his niece in The Phantom Stagecoach (1957)
Directed by:
Ray Nazarro
Cast:
William Bishop … Glen Hayden
Kathleen Crowley … Fran Maroon
Richard Webb … Tom Bradley
Hugh Sanders … Martin Maroon
John Doucette … Harry Farrow
Frank Ferguson … Joe Patterson
Ray Teal … Sheriff Riorden
Percy Helton … Mr. Wiggins
Maudie Prickett … Mrs. Wiggins
Runtime: 69 min.
Ray Teal as Sheriff Riorden, checking the inside of a stagecoach involved in a robbery in The Phantom Stagecoach (1957)
John Doucette as Maroon henchman Harry Farrow, ready to finish off a wounded sheriff with his knife in The Phantom Stagecoach (1957)
Memorable lines:
Fran Maroon:, reacting to Glen’s compliments about her being a pretty nurse: “Mr. Hayden, I’m not impressed by flattery.”
Glen Hayden: “It’s not flattery. You got a mirror. Pretty hair. Pretty eyes. Pretty smile. And …”
Fran: “And you’re pretty persistent.”
Hayden to Fran Maroon, after she’s bandaged his arm: “Well, thank you, nurse. Of course, I think this should be looked at, at least twice a day.”
Fran: “Well then, you look at it. It’s all yours.”
Worrisome Mrs. Wiggins to her husband, while a stage wheel is being changed. “How can you eat? I swear, you’d stuff yourself if you were getting hung.”
Mr. Wiggins: “Well, if it was my last chance for a good meal …”
Frank Ferguson as Joe Patterson and Hugh Sanders as Martin Maroon watch one of Patterson’s stagecoaches leave town in The Phantom Stagecoach (1957)
Percy Helton as Mr. Wiggins and Maudie Prickett as his wife, about to be nervous passengers on a Patterson stage in The Phantom Stagecoach (1957)
Richard Webb as Tom Bradley and WIlliam Bishop as Glenn Hayden, disagreeing over the value of a loaded shotgun in The Phantom Stagecoach (1957)
Kathleen Crowley as Fran Maroon, dealing with flirting by Glen Hayden (William Bishop) while mending his arm in The Phantom Stagecoach (1957)
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