Riders of the Northland Reviews

This series entry for Starrett has the distinction of being one of the first B westerns to acknowledge America was at war. A variety of films with war themes were being cranked out by the studios, and it was only a matter of time before western producers caught on to the patriotic fervor. Here Starrett and pals Hayden and Edwards are three Texas Rangers anxious to join the Army and do their part for the war effort. Before being allowed to join up, the trio is sent to Alaska to stop a secret Nazi operation. The Germans are running a submarine refueling station up north behind seemingly inpenetrable barbed wire fences. With the help of Patterson, MacDonald and youngster Larson, the Rangers discover that Sutton is a traitorous spy. Starrett runs a cattle stampede through the barbed wire and stops the operation cold. Other than the war-based twists, this is routine Western material, competently acted and directed with good production values all around. Edward, noted for performing under the name of "Ukelele Ike," doesn't sing in this film, but yodels a few tunes, including "We'll Carry the Torch for Miss Liberty" and "Silver Sage in the Twilight."