This week’s mystery movie has been the 1943 film “The Kansan,” with Richard Dix, Jane Wyatt, Albert Dekker, Eugene Pallette, Victor Jory, Robert Armstrong, Beryl Wallace, Clem Bevans, Hobart Cavanaugh, Francis McDonald, Willie Best, Douglas Fowley, Rod Cameron, Eddy Waller and Ralphael Bennett. The screenplay was written by Harold Shumate from the story “Peace Marshal” by Frank Gruber. It was photographed by Russell Harlan, with music by Gerard Carbonara, art direction by Ralph Berger, edited by Carroll Lewis and set decoration by Emile Kuri. The song “Lullaby of the Herd” was by Foster Carling and Phil Ohman, sung by the King’s Men. The film was produced by Harry Sherman and directed by George Archainbaud. It was released through United Artists.
It is available on DVD from Amazon.
Writing in the Los Angeles Times (June 10, 1943) Edwin Schaller said:
Rough and ready is this western story, which is glorified by picturesque scenery, fast riding and the familiar six-shooter bombardment…. Notwithstanding its elements are not unusual, “The Kansan” is a good picture of the type. It will cause you to root for the hero, approve the guy who goes straight after being in league with the heavies, react most favorably to the quality which Miss Wyatt brings to the environment as heroine, for she certainly typifies class in this picture.
Writing in the New York Times (Oct. 1, 1943) T.S. said:
Another popgun chorus has arrived at the Rialto, with Richard Dix conducting, and it is called “The Kansan.” Not that the name matters much, for it is a strictly assembly-line Western, with all the cues in place. Mr. Dix, with a face that still looks as if it might have been carved out of Mount Rushmore, stalks the cow-town of Broken Lance, every inch a marshal. There is the usual crop of corrupt local bigwigs, the fracas over fences, mad pursuits with horsemen thundering across the skyline, and the final free-for-all in a barricaded Main Street—in short, the kind of Western in which the cast decreases almost as rapidly as a pay check on Saturday night.
For Monday, we have a mystery gent.
Update: This is Willie Best.
For Tuesday, we have two mystery gents.
This is Douglas Fowley and Francis McDonald.
Brain Trust roll call: Michael Ryerson (Monday’s mystery guest), Howard Mandelbaum (Monday’s mystery gent), James Scott (Monday’s mystery guest), Mary Mallory (Monday’s mystery guest), Mike Hawks (Monday’s mystery guest), Chrisbo (Monday’s mystery guest), Don Danard (Monday’s mystery guest), Gary Martin (Monday’s mystery guest), Mandy Marie (Monday’s mystery guest), B.J. Merholz (Monday’s mystery guest), Arye Michael Bender (Monday’s mystery guest), Tucson Barbara (Monday’s mystery guest), Joan Renner (Monday’s mystery guest), Anne Papineau (Monday’s mystery guest), Patrick (Monday’s mystery guest), Bob Hansen (Monday’s mystery guest), Veronyka (Monday’s mystery guest), Lee Ann, Megan and Thom (Monday’s mystery guest) and L.C. (Monday’s mystery guest).
And for Wednesday, we have a murky mystery chap. This shows why I don’t do many Westerns. Even with a fair amount of digital hocus pocus, the images are usually terrible. A certain longtime actor, much beloved by the Brain Trust, is sadly unrecognizable in this print….
Update: This is Walter Baldwin.
So here is he is, in a picture from the era in which you can see him plainly.
Update: This is a promotional picture for the “The Blackouts of 1944” with Jack Mulhall and Gloria Gilbert.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery bad guys), Mary Mallory (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery bad guys), B.J. Merholz (one of Tuesday’s mystery bad guys), Don Danard (Tuesday’s mystery bad guys), Jenny M (mystery movie and mystery guests), Sheila (one of Tuesday’s mystery bad guys), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery bad guys), Michael Ryerson (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery bad guys) and Patrick (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery bad guys).
And for Thursday, Monday’s mystery guest has a mystery companion.
Update: Victor Jory and Willie Best.
Look who I found!
Update: This is George Reeves.
And this, just to clarify, this is the Brain Trust’s unofficial mascot with a lady caller.
Update: Jane Wyatt visits Jack Mulhall.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Wednesday’s mystery guest, and our unofficial Brain Trust mascot), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mystery guest, unofficial Brain Trust mascot), Don Danard (unofficial Brain Trust mascot), Stevo (Monday’s mystery guest), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery guest, unofficial Brain Trust mascot), Gary Martin (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mystery bad guy), Michael Ryerson (unofficial Brain Trust mascot) and Ed (unofficial Brain Trust mascot).
And for Friday, we have our hero and his leading lady.
Update: This is Jane Wyatt and Richard Dix.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery duo and the Brain Trust mascot), Sheila (half of Thursday’s mystery duo, mystery mascot), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery duo and the mystery gunman), Michael Ryerson (Thursday’s mystery duo, Brain Trust mascot), David Inman (Thursday’s mystery duo), Charles Kjelland (half of Thursday’s mystery duo), Gary Martin (Brain Trust mascot, mystery woman), B.J. Merholz (mystery movie, half of Thursday’s mystery duo), Alan Warren (mystery movie, Thursday’s mystery duo, Thursday’s mystery gunman), Don Danard (half of Thursday’s mystery duo, mystery gunman and mystery mascot, but alas, wrong movie), Anne Papineau (mystery movie, half of Thursday’s mystery duo), Benito (Thursday’s mystery duo), Mike Hawks (half of Thursday’s mystery duo), Tucson Barbara (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mystery guests, mystery mascot, Thursday’s mystery duo and mystery gunman) and Patrick (Thursday’s mystery duo, mystery gunman and mystery mascot).
ladailymirror.com 
I FINALLY got one! Mantan Moreland!
LikeLike
Actually, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
Stepin Fetchit/Theodore Perry?
LikeLike
Alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
Eugene Jackson in CIMARRON (1931)?
LikeLike
Alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
Willie Best.
LikeLike
This is probably not Mantan Moreland in Sleepers West, but I hope it is because it would lead to another good Mystery Photo entry.
LikeLike
Alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
Willie Best.
LikeLike
That’s Willie Best.
LikeLike
Willie Best?
LikeLike
Willie Best.
LikeLike
Willie Best?
LikeLike
Today’s Mystery Man is Willie Best I believe.
LikeLike
I know it’s Monday but I still think it’s Willie Best.
LikeLike
Willie Best
LikeLike
Okay. So it’s Willie Best in one of his many porter roles. For the sake of fun, I’ll guess At the Circus.
LikeLike
Willie Best?
LikeLike
He looks like Willie Best, so that’s my guess.
LikeLike
Willie Best?
LikeLike
William “Willie” Best?
LikeLike
Willie Best in something.
LikeLike
I believe that’s Willie Best.
LikeLike
Willie Best
LikeLike
Going with She Wouldn’t Say Yes (1945) with Rosalind Russell , Lee Bowman, Willie Best, Mantan Moreland and a bravura performance by Charlie Winninger.
LikeLike
Willie Best is today’s guest, but it’s a little too early to say which film it is.
LikeLike
Willie Best
LikeLike
Douglas Fowley, Francis McDonald in THE KANSAN (1943)
LikeLike
THE KANSAN. Douglas Fowley and Francis McDonald.
LikeLike
Douglas Fowley in the black button up?
LikeLike
Willie Best!
LikeLike
Douglas Fowley and Francis McDonald today.
LikeLike
Monday – Willie Best
Tuesday – Douglas Fowley and Francis McDonald
Movie – The Kansan
LikeLike
Francis MacDonald on Tuesday?
LikeLike
Doug Fowley and Francis MacDonald make this THE KANSAN 1943.
LikeLike
Step-N-Fetchit
LikeLike
Alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
Dudley Dickerson
LikeLike
Alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
Well today, Tuesday, we have Douglas Fowley and Francis McDonald making this The Kansan (1943) with Richard Dix and Jane Wyatt (after Shangri-La and before Jim Anderson).
LikeLike
Douglas Fowley and Francis McDonald in The Kansan from 1943.
LikeLike
Walter Baldwin as the judge and our ebullient friend is Mr. Jack Mulhall. Beryl Wallace, Earl Carroll’s girlfriend, is in this picture!
LikeLike
Our wednesday man in the courtroom looks like Walter Baldwin while the added photo is my man Jack Mulhall from the stage “KEN MURRAY’S BLACKOUTS”. We must look into this.
LikeLike
Well, the guy today is Jack Mulhall but I don’t know the Lady.
LikeLike
Monday willie best ??
LikeLike
Walter Baldwin and the irrepressible Jack Mulhall.
LikeLike
I think I see Douglas Fowley so I’m placing a guess of The Kansan …1943 …or so.
LikeLike
Wednesday has to be John Litel
LikeLike
Alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
‘Gold is Where You Find It’
LikeLike
Alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
Well, for Wednesday you’ve got Jack Mulhall in the second, clearer picture but it’s hard to believe that’s him in the fuzzy shot even though he appears in The Kansan. Anyway Jack Mulhall.
LikeLike
Thursday is Jack Mullhall
LikeLike
Willie with Victor Jory, Albert Dekker looking through the wheel, and our friend Jack Mulhall in his sick room.
LikeLike
Our pal, Jack Mulhall! And Victor Jory.
LikeLike
Victor Jory & Willie Best; George Reeve as Jessie James.
LikeLike
On Thursday we have Willie Best whispering(?) in Victor Jory’s ear likely counseling caution. The guy crouching behind the wheel of a wagon which appears to be carrying an enormous watermelon is a mystery to me (Pierce Lyden?). Then we have Jack Mulhall chatting with a pretty girl who I hope is Beryl Wallace.
LikeLike
Victor Jory on Thursday, maybe with Willie Best?
LikeLike
Victor Jory today, don’t know the movie!
LikeLike
If that’s the way you play, give me points as well for Jack Mulhall. And what about side of the head woman Jane Wyartt?
LikeLike
I was thinking The Kansan, but I didn’t want to look it up, but I think Victory Jory seals it.
LikeLike
Willie Best. Victor Jory. George Reeves. The Kansan.
LikeLike
It’s one of the Hopalong Cassidy dusters ..which all look alike…but the Mystery Guests are Victor Jory, George Reeves and Jack Mulhall. From “Bar 20” I think.
LikeLike
On Thursday I’m seeing Victor Jory and Burt Reynolds in “The Kansan”
LikeLike
Victor Jory on the left. Guessing thats Willie Best with him?
LikeLike
Mr. Happy is Victor Jory.
LikeLike
The Kansan
Tuesday – Douglas Fowley and Francis McDonald
Wednesday – Jack Mulhall
Thursday – Victor Jory (with Willie Best; also, a “found” George Reeves
LikeLike
Wednesday’s murky mystery chap is the unrecognizable Jack Mulhall. On Thursday we have Victor Jory and Willie Best, George Reeves who is about to see if someone is faster than a speeding bullet and an even less recognizable Jack Mulhall.
LikeLike
Could Thursday’s newcomer be Victor Jory?
LikeLike
Richard Dix and Jane Wyatt today.
LikeLike
Jane Wyatt and Richard Dix
LikeLike
Jane Wyatt and Richard Dix.
LikeLike
Jane Wyatt and Richard Dix in “The Kansan”.
LikeLike
And for Friday we have Richard Dix and Jane Wyatt.
LikeLike
Sunshine Sammy,,Victor Jory, A Dog Named Boo?
This one is a mystery!
LikeLike
I believe that’s Willie Best.
LikeLike
Friday is Richard Dix
LikeLike