Who payed the critics

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

In this film the 3 Mesquiteers are almost up to modern times as they battle a dastardly plot to have Texas horses shipped to Germany for the Fuehrer's army. This one had me reaching because in 1942 the American public had been reading stories for three years of lightning speed triumphs of the Panzers. In the invasion of Poland, the Polish army had cavalry and they were made short work of.Tom Tyler, Bob Steele, and Rufe Davis are this installment of those guardians of law and order in the west. The guys are working for rancher Charles Miller in 1937 whose son Richard Crane gets a free scholarship to study veterinary medicine in Germany. Too good to be true because the Nazis want him where they can control him. Not to mention have something to hold over his father who will in turn get the other ranchers to sell to the Third Reich which we were not yet at war.This particular flag waver was too much to swallow even back then let alone now. Still we got to stand up and cheer at how the 3 Mesquiteers foiled a plot for the Reich to get the best cavalry ever.

"The Phantom Plainsman" is an example of the Saturday afternoon kids film. These "B-Oaters" served the purpose, at the time, of supplying product to theaters in small towns and rural areas. The fact that it was made by Republic Pictures, usually meant that at least the production values would be decent -- and they were. As with their serials, Republic Pictures placed action over script, and this film's script is silly; without any trace of imagination. I don't know how to rate a film like this. It was made for a young audience, who'd never seen television, and wanted to see an action packed Western at their local movie theater. I'd ask the question; did "The Phantom Plainsman," entertain the kids of 1942? I'd guess the answer would be -- yes, it did.