Cowboys vs. Nazis

When Joan Cameron learns that her brother Dave has been killed, she immediately travels with her two friends Crash Corrigan and Denny Moore to the town where Dave works as sheriff. Joan learns that a group of Nazis tried to blow up the local mine, which serves as an important source of magnesium for the US government. Crash gets sworn in as the new sheriff while Joan and Denny try to find out who is allied with the Nazis.

Cowboy Commandos is part of the Range Busters series produced during World War II. It is a low budget B-movie series that relies entirely on simple showmanship such as gunfights or beatings with some humor. As a product of its time, the significance of important raw materials for warfare is emphasized several times. In addition, Joan's offensive request to the viewer to please buy war bonds to support the US is found at the beginning. The film has therefore aged poorly, but the idea of putting Nazis in a cowboy movie is curious enough to risk a look.

Shortened version on Argentinian TV

On the cover of the German DVD you will find the following note: The suspenseful WESTERN CLASSIC has been painstakingly restored in picture & sound and is available for the first time in two complete versions (German / English). Contrary to what is stated, there is only one version of the film on the DVD, where you can choose either the German or English audio.

On Argentinian television, a shortened version of the film was broadcast, which you can watch legally on YouTube in the channel Copetes Filmoteca. The version is in English with fixed Spanish subtitles. The image quality is very good and presumably a 35mm theatrical print served as the basis. This version is missing some war references, including the note to please buy war bonds. Also, two scenes in which Slim sings a song about how he would shoot Hitler.

Picture comparison:

German DVD:

Argentinian TV version:

Runtimes:

German DVD: 52:25 min.
Argentinian TV version: 48:48 min.

Comparison between the Argentinian TV version and the German DVD.

[00:00:00][00:00:00]

The DVD fades in a German title followed by the US opening credits.

The PD version has Spanish opening credits.

DF: 1:13 Min.
PF: 1:13 Min.


[00:02:10][00:02:07]

Joan, sitting on her horse, asks the audience not to clap, but rather to dig deep into their pockets to financially support the war through war bonds.

Crash and Denny applaud her and announce to buy war bonds right away.

DF: 43 sec.


[00:03:13][00:02:27]

Denny says that Crash still needs rehearsal. He pulls out his revolver and shoots the bottle on the wall.

The PD sets in when he shoots at the third bottle.

DF: 12 sec.


[00:14:50][00:13:25]

Slim ducks longer as Crash throws the bottle at him. Probably a film tear, since there's a reel change at that point.

DF: 1 sec.


[00:14:55][00:13:28]

Slim walks around the room saying that he is now the new sheriff. He sees a wanted poster on the wall of Adolf Hitler, who is wanted for murder. He starts singing a song about shooting the Fuhrer.

DF: 21 sec.


[00:33:11][00:30:39]

Film tear: Alibi and hostess Katie are seen longer.

DF: 1 sec.


[00:51:35][00:48:18]

Just before the end, a picture of Hitler can be seen. Slim shoots at it while singing his song.

OV: 18 sec.


[00:52:18][00:48:42]

Alternate ending insertion.

No time difference