| The Phantom Rider | |
| Director: | Spencer Gordon Bennet Fred C. Brannon |
| Producer: | Ronald Davidson |
| Starring: | Robert Kent Peggy Stewart LeRoy Mason George J. Lewis Kenne Duncan Hal Taliaferro Chief Thundercloud Roy Barcroft |
| Cinematography: | Bud Thackery |
| Distributor: | Republic Pictures |
| Runtime: | 12 chapters (167 minutes) |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Budget: | $140,207 (negative cost: $138,925) |
The Phantom Rider is a 1946 American Western film serial from Republic Pictures starring Robert Kent and Peggy Stewart. It was later re-released under the new title Ghost Riders of the West.
Dr Jim Sterling attempts to create a police force on the Big Tree Indian Reservation. However, his efforts face sabotage, secretly directed by the apparently friendly Indian Agent Fred Carson, whose gang is currently able to rob stagecoaches wagons without opposition. In order to defeat his enemies, Sterling adopts the name and costume of the legendary "Phantom Rider".
The Phantom Rider was budgeted at $140,207 although the final negative cost was $138,925 (a $1,282, or 0.9%, under spend). It was filmed between 25 July and 22 August 1945. The serial's production number was 1499.[1]
All special effects by the Lydecker brothers.
The Phantom Riders official release date is 26 January 1946, although this is actually the date the sixth chapter was made available to film exchanges. The serial was re-released on 11 October 1954, under the new title Ghost Riders of the West, between the first runs of Man with the Steel Whip and Panther Girl of the Kongo.
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