Raw Timber

RAW TIMBER, the last in Crescent Pictures' series of action pictures starring Tom Keene, differs from its companion films in that John Thomas Neville's story does not fictionalize a specific event in American history. It is the story of the Forest Rangers, patrolling the woodlands to prevent deforestation and to curb the excesses of unscrupulous lumber companies. Tom Keene is, of course, an honest Ranger - once again combatting Robert Fiske, as the dreadful co-owner of an outfit willing to resort to murder in order to strip the forest of its valuable wood. The other owner of the lumber firm is the lovely Peggy Keys, Keene's romantic interest in the screenplay.

The E. B. Derr production again casts versatile Budd Buster as "Kentuck," grizzled sidekick to the protagonist. Atypical casting provides Raphael Bennett with the opportunity to portray one of the good guys, an inspector with the Forestry Department, in lieu of the role of the heavy usually assigned to him. Robert Fiske always makes an excellent adversary, and the remainder of the cast - which incudes Slim Whittaker as a "slow-to-catch-on" sheriff - is effective.

Briskly directed by Ray Taylor, RAW TIMBER avoids extraneous plot ramifications which would slow down the unfolding of the melodrama, thus sustaining interest throughout the fast-moving hour. Tom Keene again makes a stalwart hero, and the environmental concerns highlighted in the screenplay keep the story timely all these decades after its release.