Texas Gun Fighter (1932)

Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

Ken Maynard made eight films with director Phil Rosen, of which this is the second last. The team finished off an extremely high note with Whistlin' Dan (1932). In this one, Ken plays an outlaw named Bill Dane who decides to reform and takes a job as sheriff in a small western mining town. Needless to say, feathers fly when his old gang learns of this appointment. Matters are complicated by Ken's old outlaw buddy – well played by Lloyd Ingraham – and the simple fact that Ken falls for the banker's attractive daughter, enacted here by Sheila Mannors or Sheila Bromley. (The actress used both these names in her career). Although this film is neither as fast-paced nor as interesting as Whistlin' Dan, it does hold the viewer's attention. It has an unusual, downbeat mood as well as touches of comedy, yet presents enough rugged action to satisfy the most ardent western fans. It also gives Maynard's horse, "Tarzan", a chance to do some amazing tricks. Maynard himself, however, often affects a rather puzzled air, as if he was not quite sure how to interpret the character. Even his stance often lacks his usual impression of confidence. He often seems puzzled and unsure. Fortunately, this is all in character here, but it's still rather unusual and may put off some fans who are used to a far more confident and dashing Maynard hero. Available on a quite good Grapevine DVD coupled with Maynard's The Lone Avenger.

Ken Maynard makes his hesitant move from the bad side to the good side of the law in this superior B Western.Maynard and sidekick Lloyd Ingraham -- whose long movie career had already included being a director for D.W. Griffith in the Teens -- are clearly good actors. Leading lady Sheila Bromley is not so good as she might be. Director Phil Rosen, who started as a cinematographer in the silent era and would keep his head down directing B pictures for most of the sound era, directs well, but he always remained a visual director and some of supporting cast are pretty poor in their line readings. However, the sturdy plot of the Good Bad Man, introduced and honed over the decades and Maynard's fine screen presence make this one worth watching.