Gotta' love these old classics.

This is the 4th in the western series from Lone Star/Paul Malvern Productions, and directed by westerns veteran Robert N. Bradbury (father of westerns star Bob Steele) starring John Wayne and George "Gabby" Hayes. The plot in this film as in others in this series is a bit more complicated than the usual B western plot. Here Wayne and Hayes hook up after many years, start a blacksmith shop and then strike gold. Now the crooked assay office - real estate office owner Lloyd Whitlock (Harris) and his assistant Yakima Canutt (Cole) want Hayes ranch and the gold. But they'll have to get rid of Wayne and Hayes to accomplish this. Then it turns out that Earl Dwire's (Sherriff Miller) son is a thief and murderer and Wayne gets blamed for these crimes. Exonerated, he is later blamed for Hayes death. What a life. In between all this, Hayes' lovely granddaughter Barbara Sheldon, with a little girl's voice, shows up and becomes Wayne's love interest. IMDB says Sheldon appeared in 4 films between 1933-34. For action there is a lot of riding back and forth, a few fist fights and a gun fight or two. Plot devices used in other movies in this series: jumping into the river to escape; riding (as if snowboarding) down a wet sluice to head off a bad guy; Wayne trying to jump from horse to horse to knock down a bad guy, missing and rolling down a hill; getting a serious kiss at he end. New devices here include chase by car, escape by RR motorized car; using a disguise o fool the bad guys; and having a photograph taken at the end. And, a couple of little plot twists.

Oh, c'mon, rq52, y' gotta give the folks a hint! Cain't go off an' jus' leave 'em hangin' like that!

Hays plays an old rancher...who was once a theatrical performer in his younger days. He still has all his old kit stashed away in a steamer trunk, and puts it to good use before the film is over (an actor playing a character who is an actor playing a character)... :D

Oh yeah, and I think Buster Keaton would've appreciated the chase scene!

Of all the "Horse Operas" k-otic have put up, this is the most fun of all of them. Typical story but look out for the dog Friday. Lassie ain't got nothin' on him. The hearing at the end of the film and the chase that ensues is a real hoot. Thank you again k-otic for sharing these shadowy images of years past.