Early Wilder

Mr. Fowley

YANKEE FAKIR-1947- Long before he became the notorious “auteur” of KILLERS FROM SPACE and other dreck director W. Lee Wilder made this funny western for Republic Pictures about two traveling salesmen (Douglas Fowley and Ransom Sherman). It was his second film.

When a border patrol sheriff is murdered, the duo are suspected and thrown in jail. They manage to get out and investigate. They concoct a scheme to catch the real killer involving an old prospector (Chem Bevins) posing as a millionaire and offering $50,000 to the person who can expose the worse character in town.

Joan Woodbury (the mini-bride of Henry VIII in BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN) is the victim’s daughter who runs the local boarding house.

Frank Reicher is a bank manager. Marc Lawrence (who was in Cecil B. DeMille’s UNCONQUERED with Gary Cooper & Boris Karloff the same year) runs the local saloon and reports to a mysterious, unseen boss. Also with little Tommy Bernard.

Fowley was the father of “Nutrocker” composer Kim Fowley! He was in SCARED TO DEATH (with Lugosi) the same year and had roles in many later movies like MIGHTY JOE YOUNG (1949), CAT-WOMEN OF THE MOON (1953) & THE NAKED JUNGLE (1954) and TV too. He produced and directed the voodoo tinged MACUMBA LOVE in 1960.

Reicher of course was the ship captain in KING KONG (and SONG OF KING) and had directed many silent movies. His last role was in SUPERMAN VS. THE MOLE MEN (1951). He died in 1965.

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