Fide sed cui vide
Friday, April 10, 2026

Phantom Rancher (1940)

Director Harry L. Fraser
Rating Rating
MPAA PG
Run Time 61 min
Color Black and White
Aspect Ratio 1.37 : 1
Sound Mono
Producer M & A Alexander Productions Inc.
Country: USA
Genre: Western
Plot Synopsis

Ken Mitchell arrives to take possession of a ranch left to him by his Uncle Jim. He meets and falls in love with Ann Markham, whose father has been killed by gunmen of rancher Collins, who schemes to gain possession of all the surrounding ranches by foreclosing on their mortgages. Ken is distrusted as his Uncle was unpopular with the local ranchers. Knowing who killed Markham, Ken disguises himself as a masked rider and interrupts Collins' plots continually. As himself, he pretends to go along with the Collins plot to drive a herd of cattle over certain lands, ruining the pastures and, as the masked rider, he visits the ranchers to give them the money needed to pay off their mortgages.

Tagline

THRILLING SCENES!

Quotes

Henchman Luke: What are you doin' around here?
Ken Mitchell: Tracin' a 32-20 rifle. I'd like to shake hands with the man who killed Markham. 32-20s do a nice neat job.
Henchman Luke: Oh, yeah? The Mitchells are awful smart.
Ken Mitchell: Think I don't know the crack of a 32-20 when I hear it?
Henchman Luke: I'll say you don't. I use a 30-30!
Ken Mitchell: [pulls out a 30-30 slug from his shirt pocket] Thanks for admittin' it.

Filming Locations

Brandeis Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

This is one of four Ken Maynard films sold by Colony Pictures in 1941 to the National Broadcasting Company to be telecast on New York's first television station, W2XBS; its earliest documented television broadcast occurred Wednesday 3 December 1941 on WNBT (Channel 1), and it was re-broadcast Sunday 10 May 1942 on the same station.