Texas Ranger Filmography
The following list is from the book, Texas Ranger Tales II, by Mike Cox.
1910 The Ranger's Bride
Starring: William "Bronco Billy" Anderson
1911 The Border Ranger
Starring: William "Bronco Billy" Anderson
1912 The Ranger and His Horse: William Duncan
Studio: Selig
1914 The Ranger's Romance
Starring: Tom Mix, Studio: Selig
1918 Heart of the Southwest
Director: Frank Powell, Studio: Goldwyn
1918 The Ranger
1919 The Lone Star Ranger
Starring: Charles Clary, William Farnum, Frederick Herzog, Lamar Johnstone, Tom London, Louise Lovely, G. Raymond Nye, Irene Rich.
Note: First screen adaptation of Zane Grey's novel, a book dedicated to the Texas Rangers.
1921 The Ranger and the Law
Starring: Lester Cuneo, Walter I. McCloud, Francelia Billington, Clark Comstock
1922 The Big Ranger
1922 Ranger's Reward
1923 The Footlight Ranger
1923 King's Creek Law
1923 The Lone Star Ranger
Starring: Tom Mix
Note: Second version of Zane Grey's classic.
1925 The Fighting Ranger
Starring: Charles Avery, Slim Cole, Jack Dougherty
1925 One Shot Ranger
Starring: Pete Morrison and Betty Godwin
1925 Ranger Bill
Starring: Dick Carter and Dorothy Woods
1925 Rider of the Painted Horse
1925 Riders of the Purple Sage
Starring: Tom Mix
1925 Ahead of the Law
1926 Daredevil's Reward
1926 The Fighting Ranger
1926 Outlaws of Red River
Starring: Tom Mix, Marjorie Daw
Note: "Gerald Beaumont's Drama of the Fighting Texas Rangers."
1927 Rambling Ranger
Starring: Jack Hoxie, Dorothy Gulliver, C.E. Anderson
1928 Law of the Range
1928 The Ranger's Oath
Starring: Al Hoxie, L.V. Jefferson, Jack Draper
1929 Rio Rita
Starring: Bebe Daniels, John Boles
Note: When Ranger Captain James Stewart chases an outlaw called "The Kinkajou" across the Rio Grande into Mexico, he becomes enamored with the lovely Rita. Problem is, her brother is the bad guy.
1930 Last of the Duanes
Starring: George O'Brien, Lucile Brown, Myrna Loy,
Studio: Fox
Note: Based on Zane Grey's novel.
1930 The Lone Star Ranger
Starring: George O'Brien, Sue Carol, Walter McGrail, Warren Hymer, Russell Simpson, Roy Stewart, Studio: Fox
Note: Third version of Zane Grey's novel, but the first version with sound.
1931 Border Law
Starring: Buck Jones, Lupita Tovar, James Mason, Frank Rice, Studio: Columbia
Note: When outlaw Shag Smith kills a Ranger's brother, the Ranger and a colleague quit the force so they can join the outlaw's gang in Mexico. Their plan is to lure Smith and his fellow brigands back to Texas--and Ranger justice.
1931 The Cisco Kid
Starring: Warner Baxter, Nora Lane, Edmund Lowe, Chrispin Martin, Willard Robertson, Douglas Haig, Charles Stevens, Conchita Montengro, Studio: Fox
Note: This screenplay was based on "The Caballero's Way," a short story by William Sydney Porter, who used the pen name of O. Henry. See Texas Ranger Tales, Volume 1.
1931 Lasca of the Rio Grande
Starring: Leo Carrillo, John Mack Brown, Dorothy Burgess, Studio: Universal
1931 The Texas Ranger
Starring: Buck Jones, Carmelita Geraghty, Fred Burns, Harry M. Woods, Jim Corey, Studio: Beverly Productions/Columbia
Note: An undercover Ranger is discovered and faces lynching.
1932 Come on, Danger
Starring: Tom Keene, Julie Haydon, Roscoe Ates, Studio: RKO-Radio
Note: When the Ranger learns the killer he seeks is a woman, can he bring her in?
1932 Riders of the Desert
1932 Riders of the Purple Sage
Starring: George O'Brien, Marguerite Churchill, Noah Beery, Studio: Fox
Note: Another Zane Grey classic.
1933 King of the Arena
Starring: Ken Maynard, Lucile Browne, John St. Polis, Studio: Universal
Note: Rangers face an outlaw called "Black Death." He shoots chemical bullets that turn victims black in the process of killing them. But in the end, old-fashioned Ranger lead takes care of "Black Death."
1933 Man of Action
1933 The Ranger s Code
Starring: Bob Steele, Doris Hill, George Hayes, George Nash, Ernie Adams, Ed Brady, Hal Price, Dick Dickinson, Frank Ball, Studio: Monogram
1934 The Dude Ranger
Starring: George O'Brien, Irene Hervey, Syd Saylor, LeRoy Mason, Studio: Principal/Fox
Note: Story by Zane Grey.
1934 The Fighting Ranger
Starring: Buck Jones, Dorothy Revier, Frank Rice, Bradley Page, Ward Bond, Studio: Columbia
Note: Bond later starred in the TV Western "Wagon Train."
1934 The Fighting Ranger
Starring: Ken Maynard, Cecilia Parker, Hooper Atchley, Walter Miller, Studio: Universal
1934 Miracle Rider
Starring: Tom Mix, Joan Gale, Charles Middleton, Jason Robards, Studio: Mascot
Note: This 15-part serial was Tom Mix's last movie. He was killed in a traffic crash shortly after its filming. See Texas Ranger Tales, Volume 1.
1935 Cyclone Ranger
Starring: Bill Cody, Nena Quartern, Eddie Gribbon, Studio: Spectrum
Note: Even cattle rustlers sometimes try to clean up their act. But they get in trouble again when they end up at a ranch where the blind owner thinks one of them killed her son.
1935 Rough Riding Ranger
Starring: Rex Lease, Bobby Nelson, Janet Chandler, Yakima Canutt, Studio: Merrick/Superior
1936 Drift Fence
Starring: Larry "Buster" Crabbe, Katherine DeMille, Tom Keense, Studio: Paramount
Note: Later re-released as Texas Desperadoes.
1936 The Kid Ranger
Starring: Bob Steele, Joan Barclay, Earl Dwire, William Farnum, Charles King, Lafe McKee, Frank Ball, Reesty Adams.
1936 Ride, Ranger, Ride
Starring: Gene Autry, Smiley Burrnette, The Tennessee Ramblers, Studio: Republic
Note: Ranger goes undercover to escort an Army wagon train laden with ammunition and supplies. Military does not take him seriously until the Comanches attack.
1936 The Texas Rangers
Starring: Fred MacMurray, Jack Oakie, Jean Parker, Lloyd Nolan, Edward Ellis, Bennie Bartlett, Elena Martinez, Frank Shannon, George Hayes, Fred Kohler, Hank Bell, Studio: Paramount
1936 The Unknown Ranger
Starring: Robert Allen, Martha Tibbets, Hal Taliaferro, Harry Woods, Robert Henry, Studio: Columbia
Note: In the first of a series of Ranger movies starring Allen, he hires on as a cowboy on the Wright ranch to get to the bottom of a major rustling problem. The Ranger discovers the rustler is actually a horse.
1936 Whistling Bullets
1937 Galloping Dynamite
1938 Guns of the Pecos
1939 The Gun Ranger
Starring: Bob Steele, Eleanor Stewart, John Merton, Ernie Adams, Studio: Republic
Note: Ranger gets his man but a crooked politician frees the accused murderer. Ranger removes his badge and proceeds to eliminate killers and crooked politicians.
1937 Law of the Ranger
Starring: Robert Allen, Elaine Shepard, Hal Taliaferro, Studio: Columbia
Note: Rangers Bob and Wally work undercover to breakup the Nash gang.
1937 Ranger Courage
Starring: Robert Allen, Martha Tibbets, Walter Miller, Studio: Columbia
Note: The Rangers are called on to protect a wagon train.
1937 The Rangers Step In
Starring: Robert Allen, Eleanor Stewart, Jay Wilsey,
Studio: Columbia
Note: The Rangers settle a feud.
1937 The Reckless Ranger
Starring: Robert Allen, Louise Small, Jack Perrin, Studio: Columbia
1937 Rio Grande Ranger
Starring: Robert Allen, Iris Meredith, Hal Taliaferro, Studio: Columbia
1938 Code of the Rangers
Starring: Zeke Clemens, Judith Ford, Kit Guard, Frank La Rue, Rex Lease, Tim McCoy, Wheeler Oakman, Roger Williams, Studio: Monogram
1938 Come On, Rangers!
Starring: Roy Rogers, Mary Hart, Raymond Hatton, J. Farrell MacDonald, Studio: Republic
Note: Rangers team up with U.S. Army to combat outlaws. Among other titles, Rogers sings "I've Learned a Lot about Women."
1938 The Little Ranger
1938 The Lone Ranger
|Starring: Lee Powell as the Lone Ranger, Chief Thundercloud as Tonto, and the horse "Silver Chief as "Silver", Studio: Republic
Note: A 15-chapter serial based on Fran Striker's radio classic.
1938 Man's Country
1938 Phantom Ranger
Starring: Tim McCoy, Suzanne Kaaren, John St. Polis, Karl Hackett, Studio: Monogram
1938 The Ranger's Roundup
Starring: Fred Scott, Al St. John, Christine Mclntyre, Earle Hodgins, Studio: Spectrum
1938 Renegade Ranger
Starring: George O'Brien, Rita Hayworth, Tim Holt, Ray Whitley, Studio: RKO
Note: Ranger Jack Steele rides out after Judith Alvarez, lady gang leader battling crooked politicians.
1939 The Lone Ranger Rides Again
Starring: Robert Livingston as the Lone Ranger, Chief Thundercloud as Tonto, Studio: Republic
Note: Another 15-chapter Lone Ranger serial.
1939 The Return of the Cisco Kid
Starring: Warner Baxter, Lynn Bari, Cesar Romero, Henry Hull, Studio: 20 th Century Fox
Note: O. Henry's short story of a gunfight between an outlaw and a Ranger catapulted the outlaw, not the Ranger, into fame.
1940 Buzzy Rides the Range
1940 The Man from Tumbleweeds
Starring: Bill Elliott, Dub Taylor, Iris Meredith, Studio: Columbia
1940 Northwest Mounted Police
Starring: Gary Cooper, Madeleine Carroll, Paulette Goddard, Preston Foster, Studio: Paramount
Note: The title correctly implies a Canadian setting, but Gary Cooper plays a Texas Ranger on the trail of a killer. This was Cecile B. de Mille's first color film.
1940 Rangers of Fortune
Starring: Fred MacMurray, Patricia Morison, Albert Dekker, Studio: Paramount
1940 The Ranger and the Lady
Starring: Roy Rogers, George "Gabby" Hayes, Julie Bishop, Harry Wends, Henry Brandon, Noble Johnson, Studio: Republic
Note: Rogers plays a singing Ranger who comes to the assistance of a lady wagon train boss.
1940 Rocky Mountain Rangers
Starring: Robert Livingston, Raymond Hatton, Duncan Renaldo, Studio: Republic
Note: Part of the Three Mesquiteers series.
1940 The Texas Rangers Ride Again
Starring: John Howard, Ellen Drew, Akin Tamiroff, May Robson, Broderick Crawford, May Robson, Charley Grapewin, Studio: Paramount, Screenplay: William R. Lipman and Horace McCoy, Director: James Hogan
Note: Rangers investigate whereabouts of a large herd of missing cattle. As the promotional copy put it, "daring rescues, shootouts and hoof-pounding chases."
1940 Two-Fisted Rangers
Starring: Pat Brady, Bill Cody Jr., Dick Curtis, Kenneth R. MacDonald, Iris Meredith, Bob Nolan, Charles Starrett, Wally Wales, Studio: Columbia
1941 Dead or Alive
1941 Desert Bandit
Starring: Don Barry, Lynn Merrick, William Haade, Studio: Republic
1941 Desert Patrol
1941 Dynamite Canyon
Starring: Tom Keene, Evelyn Finley, Slim Andrews, Studio: Monogram
1941 King of the Texas Rangers
Starring: Sammy Baugh, Duncan Renaldo, Neil Hamilton, Pauline Moore, Studio: Republic Pictures
Note: Modern Rangers face Nazi spies based in a dirigible above Texas in this 12-chapter serial. Former football star "Slingin"' Sammy Baugh plays Texas Ranger Sergeant Tom King. Get it? King, of the Texas Rangers.
1941 Last of the Duanes
Starring: George Montgomery, Lynne Roberts, Eve Arden, Francis Ford, Studio: 20th Century Fox
Note: Screen version of a Zane Grey work.
1941 Rawhide Rangers
Starring: Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy Knight, Nell O'Day, Studio: Universal
1941 Riders of the Badlands
Starring: Charles Starrert, Russell Hayden, Cliff Edwards, Ilene Brewer, Studio: Columbia
1941 Riders of the Purple Sage
Note: Screen version of a Zane Grey work.
1941 Rollin' Home to Texas
1942 Bandit Ranger
Starring: Tim Holt, Cliff Edwards, Joan Barclay, Kenneth Harlan, Studio: RKO
1942 Come On, Danger!
Starring: Tim Holt, Frances Neal, Ray Whitley,
Studio: RKO
Note: Remake of 1932 movie with same title.
1942 Down Rio Grande Way
1942 Down Texas Way
1942 The Lone Star Ranger
Starring: John Kimbrough, Sheila Ryan, Jonathan Hale, William Farnum, Studio: 20 th Century Fox
Note: Another incarnation of Zane Grey's Ranger novel.
1942 Riders of the Northland
1943 Bad Men of Thunder Gap
1943 Beyond the Last Frontier
1943 Fighting Valley
Starring: John Elliott, Charles King
1943 Hail to the Rangers
Starring: Ernie Adams, Ted Adams, Leota Atcher, Robert Owen Atcher, Lloyd Bridges, Davison Clark, Arthur Hunnicutt, Jack Kirk, Tom London, Charles Starrett, Norman Willis, Studio: Columbia
1943 Rangers Take Over
Starring: James Newill, Dave O'Brien, Guy Wilkerson, Forrest Taylor, I. Stanford Jolley, Iris Meredith, Studio: PRC
1943 The Return of the Rangers
Starring: Richard Alexander, Robert Barron, Henry Hall, Harry Harvey, I. Stanford Jolley, Charles King, Emmett Lynn, James Newill, Dave O'Brien, Nell O'Day, Glenn Strange, Guy Wilkerson, Studio: PRC
1943 Thundering Trails
1943 West of Texas
Starring: Dave O'Brien, Jim Newill, Guy Wilkerson, Frances Gladwin, Studio: PRC
1944 Cyclone Prairie Rangers
Starring: Charles Starrett, Dub Taylor, Constance Worth, Jimmy Davis, Studio: Columbia
1944 Guns of the Law
1944 Gunsmoke Mesa
1944 Outlaw Roundup
1944 Spook Town
Starring: Dave O'Brien, Jim Newill, Guy Wilkerson, Mady Lawrence, Studio: PRC
1944 Trail of Terror
1944 Whispering Skull
Starring: Dave O'Brien, Tex Ritter, Guy Wilkerson, Denny Burke, Studio: PRC
1945 Along the Navajo Trail
Starring: Roy Rogers, George Hayes, Dale Evans, Estelita Rodriguez, Studio: Republic
1945 Enemy of the Law
1945 Flaming Bullets
Starring: Tex Ritter, Dave O'Brien, Guy Wilkerson Patricia Knox, Studio: PRC
1945 Frontier Fugitives
Starring: Dave O'Brien, Tex Ritter, Lorraine Miller, Guy Wilkerson, Studio: PRC
1945 Lone Texas Ranger
Starring: Bill Elliott, Bobby Blake, Alice Fleming, Roy Barcroft, Helen Talbot, Studio: Republic
1945 Marked for Murder
1945 Three in the Saddle
Starring: Dave O'Brien, Tex Ritter, Guy Wilkerson, Studio: PRC
1946 Roaring Rangers
Starring: Charles Starrett, Smiley Burnette, Adelle Roberts, Studio: Columbia
1947 Red Hot Rangers
1947 Ridin' Down the Trail
1947 Gallant Legion
Starring: William "Wild Bill" Elliott, Lorna Gray, Joseph Schildkraut, Bruce Cabot, Andy Devine, Jack Holt, Studio: Republic
Note: In this story by John K. Butler and Gerald Geraghty the Rangers save Texas from an evil-minded separatist.
1948 The Fighting Ranger
Starring: Johnny Mack Brown, Raymond Hatton, Marshall Reed, Christine Larson, Steve Clark, Milburn Morante, Studio: Monogram
1948 The Rangers Ride
Starring: Jimmy Walker, Dub Taylor, Virginia Belmont, Riley Hill, Studio: Monogram
1949 Ranger of the Cherokee Strip
Starring: Monte Hale, Paul Hurst, Alice Talton, Roy Barcroft, Studio: Republic
1949 Riders of the Whistling Pines
Starring: Gene Autry, Patricia White, Jimmy Lloyd, Douglass Dumbrille, Studio: Columbia
1949 South of Rio
1949 Streets of Laredo
Starring: William Holden, MacDonald Carey, William Bendix, Mona Freeman, Studio: Paramount
Note: A remake of King Vidor's The Texas Rangers.
1950 Border Rangers
Starring: Don Barry, Robert Lowery, Wally Vernon, Pamela Blake, Studio: Lippert
1950 Colorado Ranger
Starring: Jimmy Ellison, Russell Hay den, Fuzzy Knight, Studio: Lippert
1950 Guns of Justice
1950 Law of the Badlands
1951 Prairie Roundup
1951 The Texas Rangers: The Lone Wolf Watchdogs of the Lone Star State
Starring: George Montgomery, Gale Storm, Jerome Courtland, Noah Beery Jr., William Bishop, Douglas Kennedy, Studio: Columbia Pictures
Note: Fictional treatment - very - of the Sam Bass story.
1951 My Outlaw Brother
Starring: Mickey Rooney, Robert Stack, Studio: Eagle Lion
1951 Ridin' the Outlaw Trail
1952 Night Stage to Galveston
Starring: Gene Autry, Pat Buttram, Virginia Huston, Thurston Hall, Studio: Columbia
Note: Gene Autry plays a singing Ranger.
1953 Star of Texas
Starring: Wayne Morris, Paul Fix, Frank Ferguson, Studio: Westwood/Allied Artists
1953 Winning of the West
Starring: Gene Autry, Gail Davis, Smiley Burnette, Studio: Columbia
1955 The Lone Ranger
Starring: Clayton Moore as the Lone Ranger, Jay Silverheels as Tonto, Studio: Warner Brothers
Note: The Lone Ranger and his faithful Indian companion appear in color for the first time.
1956 The Searchers
Starring: John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Ward Bond, Studio: Warner Brothers
Note: Considered by many to be one of the best Westerns ever.
1958 The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold
Starring: Clayton Moore, Jay Silverheels, Studio: United Artists
Note: The Lone Ranger and Tonto solve the mysterious murders of three Indians wearing gold medallions.
1959 Frontier Rangers
1960 Seven Ways from Sundown
Starring: Audie Murphy, Barry Sullivan, Studio: Universal
1961 The Last Rebel
1966 Lonesome Ranger
1968 Three Guns for Texas
Starring: Neville Brand, Peter Brown, William Smith, Studio: Universal
Note: Television feature film.
1969 The Great Bank Robbery
Starring: Zero Mostel, Kim Novak, Clint Walker, Studio: Warner Brothers
1969 The Over-the-Hill Gang
Starring: Walter Brennan, Pat O'Brien, Edgar Buchanan
Note: Brennan plays former Texas Ranger Captain Hagues in this made-for-TV movie.
1970 The Over-the-Hill-Gang Rides Again
Starring: Walter Brennan, Fred Astaire, Edgar Buchanan, Studio: ABC
Note: Made-for-TV movie sequel to The Over-the-Hill Gang.
1974 The Rangers
Starring: James G. Richardson, Colby Chester, Studio: NBC TV
Note: Made-for-TV movie.
1974 The Sugarland Express
Starring: Goldie Hawn, Ben Johnson, Michael Sacks, William Atherton, Studio: Universal
Note: Based on a true story, the 1969 abduction of a Texas Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol Trooper. The only Ranger aspect to this movie is that a Ranger fires the shot that kills the bad guy.
1976 The Town That Dreaded Sundown
Starring: Ben Johnson, Andrew Prine, Studio: American-International
Note: Loosely based on the unsolved 1946 Phantom Murder case in Texarkana, Texas. See Texas Ranger Tales, Volume 1.
1981 The Legend of the Lone Ranger
Starring: Klinton Spilsbury as the Lone Ranger, Michael Horse as Tonto
Note: A new generation gets to see the Lone Ranger story on the big screen.
1981 The Texas Rangers
Note: Made-for-TV movie.
1982 The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez
Starring: Edward James Olmos, Barry Corbin, E.W. Patterson, Moctezuma Esparza, Director: Robert Young
Note: Written by Victor Villasenor as an adaptation of With His Pistol in His Hand by Americo Paredes.
1983 Lone Wolf McQuade
Starring: Chuck Norris
Note: This movie, in which Norris plays a Ranger proficient in the martial arts, was the genesis of his television series hit Walker, Texas Ranger, which premiered in 1993.
1986 Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
1987 Extreme Prejudice
Starring: Nick Nolte
Note: Nolte plays Texas Ranger Jack Benteen in this movie filmed in and around El Paso.
1989 Lonesome Dove
Starring: Robert Duvall, Tommy Lee Jones, Angelica Huston
Note: The acclaimed made-for-TV miniseries based on Larry McMurtry's Pulitzer-prize winning novel.
1990 A Pair of Aces
Starring: Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson
Note: Made-for-TV movie aired on CBS Jan. 14, 1990. Shot in Austin.
1992 Another Pair of Aces
Starring: Kris Kristofferson, Rip Torn, Willie Nelson
Note: Kristofferson as Texas Ranger Captain "Rip" Metcalf, Rip Torn as Captain Jack Parsons, and Willie Nelson as Billy Roy
1993 A Perfect World
Starring: Kevin Costner, Clint Eastwood, Laura Dern, Studio: Warner Brothers
1994 One Riot, One Ranger
1995 Ranger!
Sources
Adams, Les and Buck Rainey. Shoot-Em-Ups: The Complete Reference Guide to Westerns of the Sound Era. New Rochelle, N.Y.: Arlington House Publishers, 1978.
Baer, D. Richard. The Film Buff's Checklist of Motion Pictures (1912-1979). Hollywood, CA: Hollywood Film Archive, 1979.
Graham, Don. Cowboys and Cadillacs: How Hollywood Looks at Texas.
Austin: Texas Monthly Press, 1983. The Internet Movie Database, Ltd.
Sublett, Jesse. "Lone on the Range: Texas Lawmen of Lore." www.texasmonthly.com, 1997.
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