The Phantom Rider (1946 serial)

The Phantom Rider is a 1946 American Western film serial from Republic Pictures starring Robert Kent and Peggy Stewart. It was later re-released under the new title Ghost Riders of the West.

Plot summary
Dr Jim Sterling attempts to create a police force on the Big Tree Indian Reservation. However, his efforts face sabotage, secretly directed by the apparently friendly Indian Agent Fred Carson, whose gang is currently able to rob stagecoaches wagons without opposition. In order to defeat his enemies, Sterling adopts the name and costume of the legendary "Phantom Rider".

Cast

 * Robert Kent as Dr Jim Sterling and The Phantom Rider
 * Peggy Stewart as Doris Shannon, school teacher
 * LeRoy Mason as Fred Carson, villain secretly sabotaging the reservation to maintain his interests
 * George J. Lewis as Blue Feather, Sterling's sidekick
 * Kenne Duncan as Ben Brady
 * Hal Taliaferro as Nugget, miner
 * Chief Thundercloud as Chief Yellow Wolf
 * Tom London as Ceta
 * Roy Barcroft as The Marshal
 * Monte Hale as Cass
 * Hugh Prosser as Keeler

Production
The Phantom Rider was budgeted at $140,207 although the final negative cost was $138,925 (a $1,282, or 0.9%, under spend). It was filmed between 25 July and 22 August 1945. The serial's production number was 1499.

Stunts

 * Wayne Burson
 * Tommy Coats
 * Fred Graham
 * Cliff Lyons
 * Ted Mapes
 * Eddie Parker
 * Post Park (coach)
 * Tom Steele (fights)
 * Duke Taylor (horseback)
 * Dale Van Sickel (horseback)
 * Henry Wills (horseback)
 * Bill Yrigoyen (horseback/fights)
 * Joe Yrigoyen (horseback/fights)

Special effects
All special effects by the Lydecker brothers.

Theatrical
The Phantom Rider's official release date is 26 January 1946, although this is actually the date the sixth chapter was made available to film exchanges. The serial was re-released on 11 October 1954, under the new title Ghost Riders of the West, between the first runs of Man with the Steel Whip and Panther Girl of the Kongo.

Chapter titles
Source:
 * 1) The Avenging Spirit (20min)
 * 2) Flaming Ambush (13min 20s)
 * 3) Hoofs of Doom [sic] (13min 20s)
 * 4) Murder Masquerade (13min 20s)
 * 5) Flying Fury (13min 20s)
 * 6) Blazing Peril (13min 20s)
 * 7) Gauntlet of Guns (13min 20s)
 * 8) Behind the Mask (13min 20s) - a re-cap chapter
 * 9) The Captive Chief (13min 20s)
 * 10) Beasts at Bay (13min 20s)
 * 11) The Death House (13min 20s)
 * 12) The Last Stand (13min 20s)