Battling with Buffalo Bill
Encyclopedia
Battling with Buffalo Bill (1931) is a Universal Pictures
movie serial
based on the book The Great West That Was by William "Buffalo Bill" Cody
, which had also been used as the inspiration for the studio's highly successful 1930 serial The Indians Are Coming
.
This was Universal's 78th serial, the 10th with sound and 4th with full sound, of the studio's total of 137 serials.
(1930
) this serial was based on the book "The Great West That Was" by Buffalo Bill Cody.
Source:
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
movie serial
Serial (film)
Serials, more specifically known as Movie serials, Film serials or Chapter plays, were short subjects originally shown in theaters in conjunction with a feature film. They were related to pulp magazine serialized fiction...
based on the book The Great West That Was by William "Buffalo Bill" Cody
Buffalo Bill
William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody was a United States soldier, bison hunter and showman. He was born in the Iowa Territory , in LeClaire but lived several years in Canada before his family moved to the Kansas Territory. Buffalo Bill received the Medal of Honor in 1872 for service to the US...
, which had also been used as the inspiration for the studio's highly successful 1930 serial The Indians Are Coming
The Indians Are Coming
The Indians Are Coming is a Universal movie serial based on the book The Great West That Was by William "Buffalo Bill" Cody. The serial was the first "all-talking" film of its kind...
.
This was Universal's 78th serial, the 10th with sound and 4th with full sound, of the studio's total of 137 serials.
Plot
The plot is a variation on the standard B-Western "Land Grab" plot: Gold has been discovered in the area and gambler Jim Rodney intends to make sole claim to it by pushing the rightful owners off the land and taking it for himself. To do so he has his henchmen kill an Indian woman, provoking attacks from her tribe. This brings Buffalo Bill and the United States Cavalry into the town. Buffalo Bill proceeds to defeat Rodney and his schemes.Cast
- Tom TylerTom TylerTom Tyler was an American actor in silent and sound motion pictures, best known for his portrayal of superhero Captain Marvel in the acclaimed 1941 movie serial The Adventures of Captain Marvel.-Biography:...
as William "Buffalo Bill" Cody - Lucile BrowneLucile BrowneLucile Browne was an American film actress. She starred opposite John Wayne in the 1935 films Texas Terror and Rainbow Valley....
as Jane Mills, Buffalo Bill's love interest - William DesmondWilliam Desmond (actor)William Desmond was an Irish-born American actor. He appeared in 205 films between 1915 and 1948. He was nicknamed "The King of the Silent Serials."...
as John Mills - Rex BellRex BellRex Bell , born George Francis Beldam, was an American actor and politician. He was the Lieutenant Governor of Nevada and a western movie star. Rex was born in Chicago and married actress Clara Bow in 1931. They had two sons, Tony Beldon and George Beldon, Jr...
as Dave Archer, Buffalo Bill's sidekick. This serial brought Rex Ball to the attention of Trem Carr. Carr decided to star Bell in a series of nine films for Monogram PicturesMonogram PicturesMonogram Pictures Corporation is a Hollywood studio that produced and released films, most on low budgets, between 1931 and 1953, when the firm completed a transition to the name Allied Artists Pictures Corporation. Monogram is considered a leader among the smaller studios sometimes referred to...
, beginning with From Broadway to Cheyenne (19321932 in film-Events:*Cary Grant's film career begins*Katharine Hepburn's film career begins*Shirley Temple's film career begins*Disney released Flowers and Trees, the first cartoon in three-strip Technicolor film.*Santa, first sound film made in Mexico released....
). - Francis FordFrancis Ford (actor)Francis Ford was a prolific film actor, writer, and director. He was the older brother of film director John Ford. He also appeared in many of John Ford's movies, including Young Mr. Lincoln and The Quiet Man.He starred in the 1912 two-reeler The Deserter by Thomas H. Ince and acted in over 400...
as Jim Rodney, villainVillainA villain is an "evil" character in a story, whether a historical narrative or, especially, a work of fiction. The villain usually is the antagonist, the character who tends to have a negative effect on other characters...
ous gambler trying to illicitly claim a local gold strike - George RegasGeorge RegasGeorge Regas was a Greek actor.Born in Sparta, Greece, he was the brother of actor Pedro Regas. He was a stage actor in Athens before coming to the U.S. In New York he played Romeo in a Grecian version of Romeo and Juliet.In 1921 Regas acted in his first motion picture: The Love Light with Mary...
as 'Breed' Johns - Yakima CanuttYakima CanuttYakima Canutt , also known as Yak Canutt, was an American rodeo rider, actor, stuntman and action director.-Biography:...
as Scout Jack Brady - Bud OsborneBud OsborneBud Osborne was an American film actor. He appeared in over 600 films and television programs between 1912 and 1963.Osborne was born in Knox County, Texas, and died in Hollywood, California from a heart attack...
as Joe Tampas, one of Rodney's henchmen - Joe BonomoJoe Bonomo (strongman)Joe Bonomo born 25 December 1901 in Coney Island New York died 28 March 1978 in Los Angeles was a famous American weight lifter, strongman, film stunt performer and actor....
as Joe Brady - Bobby Nelson as Ezra Podge
- Chief Thunderbird as Chief Thunder Bird
- Jim ThorpeJim ThorpeJacobus Franciscus "Jim" Thorpe * Gerasimo and Whiteley. pg. 28 * americaslibrary.gov, accessed April 23, 2007. was an American athlete of mixed ancestry...
as Swift Arrow
Production
Along with the more successful The Indians Are ComingThe Indians Are Coming
The Indians Are Coming is a Universal movie serial based on the book The Great West That Was by William "Buffalo Bill" Cody. The serial was the first "all-talking" film of its kind...
(1930
1930 in film
-Events:* November 1: The Big Trail featuring a young John Wayne in his first starring role is released in both 35mm, and a very early form of 70mm film and was the first large scale big-budget film of the sound era costing over $2 million. The film was praised for its aesthetic quality and realism...
) this serial was based on the book "The Great West That Was" by Buffalo Bill Cody.
Stunts
- Joe BonomoJoe Bonomo (strongman)Joe Bonomo born 25 December 1901 in Coney Island New York died 28 March 1978 in Los Angeles was a famous American weight lifter, strongman, film stunt performer and actor....
- Yakima CanuttYakima CanuttYakima Canutt , also known as Yak Canutt, was an American rodeo rider, actor, stuntman and action director.-Biography:...
- Cliff Lyons
Chapter titles
- Captured by Redskins
- Circling Death
- Between Hostile Tribes
- The Savage Horde
- The Fatal Plunge
- Trapped
- The Unseen Killer
- Sentenced to Death
- The Death Trap
- A Shot from Ambush
- The Flaming Death
- Cheyenne Vengeance
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