Kermit Maynard was an actor, stuntman, and a successful rodeo trick rider. He was often billed as Tex Maynard, but in this particular 1937 production he was billed under his real name. He was not a particularly charismatic or overly engaging movie star, but he was certainly an enjoyable, and worthwhile screen presence. And, as far as cowboy actors go, Maynard was a definite natural.
Whistling Bullets is far from a classic, but it is certainly entertaining, and I can definitely recommend it for western genre fans. It's short and enjoyable. The movie works perfectly as a quick watch that never wears out its welcome.
Like many other b-western films of the time, it has a contemporary setting, and a fairly simple plot. Kermit Maynard is a member of the Texas Rangers and he is assigned to go undercover in prison. Maynard shares a cell with a robber played by Maston Williams, Kermit's job is to gain Maston's trust, break him out of the prison, and hopefully have Williams lead him to the whereabouts of a large amount in stolen bonds.
The film has a decent amount of action and is quite enjoyable. The director John English was rather prolific in the western movie genre. He worked quite a number of times with both Roy Rogers and Gene Autry and his films tend to be passibly directed, but never particularly exceptional, this is the same case here.
Whistling Bullets is enjoyable and worthy of a viewing. It will never be seen as any kind of classic, but it is fun to watch anyway.
-W. Jay Pinto
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