JohnHowardReid
Bob Steele (Brick Loren), Arletta Duncan (Jean Mullins), Frank Ball (Fred Mullins), Kit Guard (Spike Sullivan), George Chesebro (Nifty Harmon), Lafe McKee (Sheriff Jim Cosgrove), George "Gabby" Hayes (Pete), Charles King (Jock Malone), Henry Roquemore (bartender), Si Jenks (timekeeper), Archie Ricks (stage driver), Dorothy Vernon, Bud Pope, Clyde McClary, Buzz Barton, Hank Bell, Jack Evans, Al Haskell (spectators), Barney Beasley, Edward Coxen, Harry Leroy, Fred Parker, Jack Tomek, Edward Peil, senior (townsmen), Jack Jones, Dennis Moore (cowhands), George Morrell (Blackie), Perry Murdock (ranch hand), Tex Palmer (the stage robber).Director: JOHN P. McCARTHY. Original screenplay: Wellyn Totman. Photography: Archie Stout. Film editor: Carl Pierson. Art director: E.R. Hickson. Music director: Lee Zahler. Lighting: Edward Cox. Production manager: Paul Malvern. Sound recording: Homer C. Ellmaker. Producer: Trem Carr.Copyright 13 February 1933 by Monogram Pictures Corporation. No recorded New York opening. U.S. release: 15 December 1932. 6 reels. 59 minutes.SYNOPSIS: An honest prize-fighter and his crooked manager arrive in a small western town with the aim of milking the local cowboys.COMMENT: An unusual offering which presents Bob Steele in a new and most attractive light. Both he and his opponent, Kit Guard, do all their own fighting without benefit of doubles. Guard, in fact, has the best role of his career, and makes the most of it.Our old friends George Chesebro (as the crooked manager, naturally), Lafe McKee (an honest sheriff with an appealing if somewhat bent sense of ethics), George Hayes (giving an early "Gabby" impersonation without benefit of whiskers or crumpled costume) and Charles King (a bad egg through and through, but this time clean- shaven) also enliven proceedings no end. Attractively diminutive Arletta Duncan seems made to order for our Bob. The screenplay is solidly entertaining, while McCarthy's direction rates as surprisingly competent. By Monogram standards, production values really impress.
