The Fighting Westerner (1935)

You won't be disappointed!

As Good As It Gets

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

"The Old Dark House" has moved from Wales to the west coast of the United States, and Randolph Scott shows up in the middle of a murder investigation. It seems that the relatives of a dying patriarch (who hires Scott to work in his laboratory) have gathered around, waiting for the old coot to die. But one by one, members of the family start to drop dead themselves. As always happens in these films, the hero (Scott) falls in love with one of the more innocent members of the family, and in this case, that heroine is none other than Ann Sheridan, the future "Oomph Girl" in one of her first major roles. Several years off from beginning to shine as one of Warner Brothers' top actresses of the late 1930's and 40's, Sheridan had yet to show her potential, but what made her movie star material is evident. Scott, seen the same year in the Astaire/Rogers musical "Roberta", moved between "A" films and low-grade western/action films. Even though he's seen through most of the films in chaps, this isn't really a western, in spite of its setting.In the supporting cast, "Chic" Sale adds some amusement as the self-sworn in sheriff, while stage actress Mrs. Leslie Carter makes a rare screen appearance as the family matriarch. Coming off like Eva Moore in "The Old Dark House", Carter would be much better off five years later when Miriam Hopkins played her in Warner's biopic "The Lady With Red Hair". Her acting here is best described as something out of the gaslight era, overly dramatic and unintentionally campy. Willie Fung, as usual, is typecast as the effeminate servant.There are some interesting developments in the slow-moving and creaky pacing, particularly the contraption used in several of the demises. Otherwise, the film is entirely forgettable, and strictly for fans of the "Z" budget bottom of the bill programmers or for fans who want to see Scott and Sheridan early in their career.

As you see in Fightingwesterner's review, this is one of those weird western B-movies in which you see all kinds of contemporary items yet the film is set in what seems like the old west! This was actually pretty common back in the 30s and 40s, as Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and many of the other stars of the day made such anachronistic films. My favorite was an Autry film where you see Gene chasing baddies on his horse--and they were driving in a pickup truck! Oddly, audiences of the time loved the films and seemed to look past this weirdness. And, despite "Rocky Mountain Mystery" being another one of these strange films, it was enjoyable.The film begins with Randolph Scott arriving at the scene of a murder. It seems that a man has been assumed guilty and Scott knows this other man is not the culprit. Along with the goofy Deputy (Chic Sale--who is even more of a crusty old character than the great Gabby Hayes). Together the two work on uncovering the mystery--and it leads to a surprising discovery that it's not one person they are looking for but a group of them! The film is enjoyable--mostly due to Sale's enjoyable over-the-top performance. Yes, he chews the scenery but you can't help but like him. Aside from this, look for a younger and less glamorous Ann Sheridan--before Warner Brothers changed her appearance and style. Worth seeing--particularly if you like B-westerns or mysteries.

Much of the effort that went into screen writing in the thirties had to do with exploring the role of the detective. Most of that was playing with the detective story. Watching many films from this era is fun just from the experimental nature of the narrative.This is nominally a western. That is, there are horses, cowboy revolvers and hats. Our hero struts like all the other cowboys busy in other films establishing that genre. He has an honest heart, appears on the scene with no baggage and gets the girl. Otherwise, this is a standard detective story. Because it wants to make the case clear, it features a radium mine, something about as alien from the old west as possible. Judged as an experiment, it is pretty clever mix of genres. Judged as a detective story, it is slightly more complex than the ordinary. There is misdirection of a kind that seems predicable today but was likely a surprise then. (The murdered man had his face crushed in a mining press, so you know the body is not who it is claimed to be.) There is a surprise conspiracy.The version I saw had the title "The Fighting Westerner," and I suppose they tried to market this both as a western and a mystery.Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.

This is definitely a "B" type western, but Randolph Scott does his normal star role as Randolph Scott. "Chic" Sale's performance as the "old timer" is very entertaining, the plot is decent, and everything moves along. Some interesting little add ins, like the two dogs. You can also see Ann Sheridan before she learned to act.All in all a little better than average for this era.