Wild Brian Kent (1936)

An absolute waste of money

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Ralph Bellamy (Brian Kent), Mae Clarke (Betty Prentice), Lew Kelly (Bill Harris), Helen Lowell (Sue Prentice), Stanley Andrews (Tony Baxter), Eddie Chandler (Jed), Richard Alexander (Phil Hanson), Jack Duffy (old-timer), Howard Hickman (Cruickshank).Director: HOWARD BRETHERTON. Screenplay: Earle Snell, Don Swift, James Gruen. Adapted by Earle Snell and James Gruen from the 1919 novel The Re-Creation of Brian Kent by Harold Bell Wright. Photographed in black-and-white by Harry Neumann. Film editor: Robert Crandall. Art director: Lewis J. Rachmil. Production manager: Edward Gross. Assistant director: Ray Heinz. Sound recording: Karl Zint. RCA Victor Sound System. Producer: Sol Lesser. Executive producer: Sol Lesser. A Sol Lesser Production.Copyright 6 November 1936 by Principal Productions, Inc. Released through 20th Century-Fox. No New York opening. U.S. release: 6 November 1936. 6 reels. 60 minutes.SYNOPSIS: A polo-playing welsher redeems himself in a small Kansas town when he saves a wheat farm from the clutches of a local land baron.COMMENT: Although she continued acting into the late 1960s, Mae Clarke is chiefly remembered as James Cagney's grapefruit victim in "Public Enemy". (She also co-starred with Cagney in "Lady Killer" and "Great Guy"). Here she has a nice role opposite perennial "other man", Ralph Bellamy, who finally has a chance to show what he can do as the romantic lead. Both principals acquit themselves ably and agreeably. The support players likewise lend more than competence, and the script deftly builds to a well-realized action climax.Bretherton's direction is remarkably smooth, and production values rate A-1.P.S. I'm sure you noticed that producer Sol Lesser has given himself THREE credits for doing the same job!

Ralph Bellamy was a fine actor but most of his films consisted of him playing in supporting roles--and mostly playing the guy who loses the girl by the end of the film. In the case of "Wild Brian Kent", however, Bellamy gets a chance to play lead. And, while he does the best he can under the circumstances, it's a film that just isn't very good. With more leading roles like this, it's no wonder he was mostly a supporting actor.The film begins with Bellamy behaving boorishly aboard a train. Apparently, although he's an expert polo player, he's also a first-class heel and has not only squandered his inheritance but squandered all his friendships as well. In fact, they are so tired of the guy that they put him off at a station in the middle of no where. There, Bellamy's character continues to behave like a selfish jerk until, inexplicably, he meets up with a family in need and he gives up his selfish ways. But is it too late? The film never seemed real to me and was a lot like a B-western--with an evil boss-man trying to steal the nice family's homestead. While it's not a terrible film, Bellamy's change of heart seemed difficult to explain and he wasn't particularly likable. In addition, the plot just seemed rather contrived and silly. Not horrible but probably not worth your time either.