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Ken Maynard (Thunderbolt), Frances Lee (Judy Lane), Frank Rice (Nevady), Harry Holman (Wingate), William Gould (Red Matthews), Bob Kortman (One-Shot), Wilfred Lucas (President Eaton), William Robyns (Wingate's partner), Frank Beal (Tobias Oldham), Nelson McDowell (McTavish), Stanley Blystone (Flash), Arthur Hoyt (Eaton's secretary), Gus Leonard (Old Joe), Robert McKenzie (bartender), Kermit Maynard, William McCall, Murdock MacQuarrie, Harry Todd, Horace B. Carpenter, Silver Tip Baker (townsmen), Ralph Bucko, Roy Bucko, Jim Mason, Bud McClure, Lew Meehan, Merrill McCormick, Blackjack Ward, Robert Walker, Jack Rockwell, Bill Patton (henchmen), Archie Ricks (stage driver), Tom Smith, Jess Cavin, Charles Murphy (barflies), Frank Ellis (cowboy). Johnny Luther (outlaw).Director: ALVIN J. NIETZ. Screenplay: Alvin J. Nietz. Story: Betty Burbridge, Forrest Sheldon. Photography: Jackson Rose. Film editor: Dave Berg. Art director: Ralph M. DeLacy. Production supervisor: Irving Starr. Assistant director: Mike Eason. Sound recording: Hans Weeren. Producers: Burt Kelly, Sam Bischoff, William Saal. Copyright 5 March 1933 by K.B.S. Productions, Inc. Presented by E. W. Hammons and released through World Wide Pictures. Physical distribution through Fox. U.S. release: 25 March 1933. No recorded New York opening. U.K. release: 24 February 1934. 62 minutes. SYNOPSIS: An eager cowboy agrees to rid a small western town of all its troublemakers in exchange for three kisses from the pretty proprietress of the local restaurant.COMMENT: Another most entertaining outing for Ken Maynard's legion of fans (of which I'm one), this entry finds our plucky hero enmeshed in a cleverly realized series of scrapes, both serious and comic. Abetting Ken in these endeavors is a fine support cast, led by the lovely Frances Lee as the reluctant heroine, Frank Rice as the tale- spinning sidekick, Harry Holman as the inspired banker and Bob Kortman (in a sizable role for once) as the ruffianly One-Shot. Production values are extremely high with lots of extras milling around the back-lot of the California Tiffany Studios. Director Alan James (or Alvin J. Nietz as he was sometimes billed) takes full advantage of the producers' largess. I love the almost epic scene where the band and citizenry welcome the railroad president with all colors flying. Keen-eyed aficionados will note Kermit Maynard doubling for his brother in a few overhead shots of the destructive fight between Ken and Bob in Miss Lee's eatery.

When the Thunderbolt Kid (Ken Maynard) arrives in town, his friend runs all over talking about what a tough and evil man Thunderbolt is. As a result, everyone is scared to death of him--even though he's really a nice guy. But the town fathers are impressed enough with his tough-guy image that they offer him a job to clean up the town. It seems another nearby town is vying for the railroad to come through their city instead--and they sent a gang of roughnecks to this little town to stir up trouble to scare away the railroad. At first, Thunderbolt has a pretty easy time of it--and is thrilled to do it because he's met a cute lady there. But in the end, it looks like all is lost and the town is without hope.This is a pretty average B-western. While it's not at all exceptional in its production quality, at least the script is mildly funny and it is different. So, even if it isn't particularly great and Maynard has all the personality of soggy asparagus, it is easy to like in spite of its deficiencies.

In a town where people like to signal their arrival by shooting their guns high high up in the air! Comes a stranger who warns of the mean mean man heading up this way by the name of 'Phantom Thunderbolt'. The townspeople are predictably alarmed (except for of course, the undertaker, who starts fondling his tape measure), When Thunderbolt DOES arrive, he's actually not as bad as all that. You see, the warning stranger is actually his friend, and he just likes to do that to bring attention to himself (smart guy!). Soon, thunderbolt does do some good by ridding the town of some problematic folk. The bankers are impressed, and want Thunderbolt to be sheriff. He'll do it under one condition.. He must first get to kiss the town's only girl! The bankers agree that it's a fine idea to sell her off for this proposal (!!) and soon, Thunderbolt is fighting badasses in town so that the town will have a squeaky clean image for a chance for the railroad to come through! This is a pretty fun film, though instantly forgettable. Ken Maynard is fun as the hero, and Francis Lee is quite good too.

I believe in comparing apples to apples, and not to oranges. So with that in mind, I want to point out that I am a fan of old westerns, including old "B" westerns, of which Phantom Thunderbolt is one. So my comments and this grade are made in comparison with other low-budget "B" westerns of the early 1930s, and not compared to what we all expect in a contemporary movie.This movie is absolutely awful. It has to be the worst film of its kind that I've ever seen, and I've seen quite a few. An average grade school student could write a more intelligent script. The acting of the entire cast is atrocious. Even that of the star, Ken Maynard. About all that can be said for him is that he can ride a horse pretty well. Clearly the director had absolutely no sense of how to entice a believable performance from any of the actors.Don't waste your time. There are many more old "B" westerns available in the public domain that are much more worthy.