Minor Western from the early years of talking pictures has only cute little Mexican firebrand Armida to recommend it. Unfortunately, leading man Don Terry towers over her so much that their romance borders on the comical.
5 Reviews
An Old Western Featuring a Little Action, Music, Romance and Comedy
Uriah4321 September 2023
This film essentially begins with an American cowboy named "Bob Hamlin" (Don Terry) his brother "Victor Hamlin" (Wesley Barry) and their friend "Slim" (Victor Potel) driving a herd of horses across the border into Mexico to sell at a nearby town. To that effect, upon finding a nice grazing area for the horses, they all decide to head over to the local cantina for a drink or two. Not long afterward, a fight breaks out which ends with Bob shooting and killing a man in defense of his brother. Naturally, not wanting to stand trial for murder, all three of them quickly ride out of town in the general direction to where they had previously left their herd. However, when they finally arrive, they discover that their horses have been stolen--and the only way to retrieve them is to go right back to the same town they had just left. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was an interesting Western which featured a nice plot, good music and a little bit of comedy here and there as well. Admittedly, the film is quite dated, but even so, it kept my attention for the most part and I have rated it accordingly. Average.
Mostly forgettable.
planktonrules30 June 2020
"Border Romance" is a B-western whose biggest asset is that the sound, for 1929, is awfully good. As far as the rest of the story goes, it's just okay and is, at best, a time-passer you can find on YouTube.
Bob Hamlin and his buddy wander into a western town. Soon, a baddie attacks the friend and Bob shoots him in self-defense. But the guy was a baddie who has a gang who will want revenge...so the two beat it out of town. But Bob is infatuated with a local señorita...and risks his life to see her. What's next? See the film...or not.
While the sound quality is very good for 1929, films from the very late 20s tend to be a bit flat compared to movies made 1930 and beyond. Much of it is because incidental music is missing in most early talkies and decent dialog writing was still pretty rare. And, the singing at the 22 minute mark is pretty hard on the ears...also more common in early talkies. Because of these factors, the film is most likely a better bet for people who are nuts about movies and have come to expect a bit less from most 1929 productions.
Bob Hamlin and his buddy wander into a western town. Soon, a baddie attacks the friend and Bob shoots him in self-defense. But the guy was a baddie who has a gang who will want revenge...so the two beat it out of town. But Bob is infatuated with a local señorita...and risks his life to see her. What's next? See the film...or not.
While the sound quality is very good for 1929, films from the very late 20s tend to be a bit flat compared to movies made 1930 and beyond. Much of it is because incidental music is missing in most early talkies and decent dialog writing was still pretty rare. And, the singing at the 22 minute mark is pretty hard on the ears...also more common in early talkies. Because of these factors, the film is most likely a better bet for people who are nuts about movies and have come to expect a bit less from most 1929 productions.
Not Quite Saludos Amigos
boblipton2 May 2004
This early effort by directorial jack-of-all-trades Richard Thorpe quickly shows its stripes as a musical-comedy western -- it opens with the Mexican army captain leading his cavalry in a cantering chorus that works very nicely.
This is a western with a little bit of something for everyone, including a clip of Rex the Wonder Horse and Ladies' Day at the swimming hole. The songs are surprisingly fresh, Babe Kane is very funny as the distaff comic side kick, and there is pretty good camerawork, particularly in the dance scene. While not for everyone -- the stereotypes are hard to take if you forget for a moment this is a farce -- if you have any taste at all for this sort of thing, you will find it enormously entertaining.
This is a western with a little bit of something for everyone, including a clip of Rex the Wonder Horse and Ladies' Day at the swimming hole. The songs are surprisingly fresh, Babe Kane is very funny as the distaff comic side kick, and there is pretty good camerawork, particularly in the dance scene. While not for everyone -- the stereotypes are hard to take if you forget for a moment this is a farce -- if you have any taste at all for this sort of thing, you will find it enormously entertaining.
I enjoyed this movie. Saw it twice!
JohnHowardReid2 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Producer: Lester F. Scott. Copyright 13 May 1930 by Tiffany Productions, Inc. New York opening at the Colony: 25 May 1930. U.S. release: 18 May 1930. 7 reels. 5,974 feet. 66 minutes. Print under review is the re-issue presented by Amity Pictures.
SYNOPSIS: Bob Hamlin, his younger brother Victor and their helper Slim are horse-traders in Mexico. Their horses are stolen. Whilst pursuing bandits, they themselves are seemingly hunted by the rurales who want to question them about a tavern shooting in which a Mexican was killed. Bob still finds time to romance both Conchita, a diminutive yet spirited senorita, and Gloria, a bar-girl friend of the horse bandit; whilst Slim, who has saved some money, is vigorously pursued by his ex-wife Nina, a singer in the local cantina.
NOTES: Movie debut of Marjorie "Babe" Kane (not to be confused with Helen Kane).
VIEWER'S GUIDE: A fight between two wild stallions may disturb some people, but otherwise Border Romance is too quaint to offend.
COMMENT: This remarkably curious film certainly whets our appetite for more of the same. By the standards of the independent early sound western, it is not only lavishly produced but technically quite accomplished. There are no odd cuts, washed out photography or other evidences of primitive sound recording. Zech's rich photography exhibits a nice range of contrasts, the film editing is reasonably deft, and the recording of the songs, whilst obviously dubbed, is still agreeably proficient.
Even more curious is that the film belongs not to the William S. Hart and The Covered Wagon traditions of the silent western, but is firmly in the camp of Rio Rita and Girl of the Golden West. Not only do the characters break into incongruous if pleasing song at every likely and unlikely opportunity, but they play to each other as if they were acting on a stage. They project their voices with stage emphases, they exaggerate their facial expressions, and their movements are blocked out within invisible but still potent stage confines.
This said, Armida makes a most attractive little heroine. Fans of "Babe" Kane will not be disappointed either, though she has only the one quick song, followed by a typically snappy dance. Don Terry is a bit wet as the hero, whilst Potel and Barry overact as his sidekicks — particularly Potel, though he does have one or two genuinely funny lines.
If it's action and not song or comedy you're after, you will probably be a bit disappointed, despite the long shoot-out, riding- to-the-rescue climax. Which brings us to our final curiosity. It's an odd western indeed in which the comedy, romance and music are obviously regarded by all concerned as far more important than chases, fights and gun-play. In fact the songs are very tuneful indeed. Notice also that the music tends to play under the dialogue scenes whilst the action spots are left to the mercy of primitive sound effects.
The director: Richard Thorpe had already directed over sixty western features before "Border Romance". A devotee of the don't-make-it- good-make-it-Monday school of film-making, Thorpe was noted for his celerity in printing takes that other directors would have described as less than perfect. Thorpe always believed that striving for perfection was a waste of money and time. Mr and Mrs Average Picturegoer didn't know and couldn't tell the difference between Thorpe's okay first or second take and William Wyler's masterly 37th or 49th. Usually his films are staged with reasonable vigor but little imagination. "Border Romance" is less vigorous but more imaginative.
SYNOPSIS: Bob Hamlin, his younger brother Victor and their helper Slim are horse-traders in Mexico. Their horses are stolen. Whilst pursuing bandits, they themselves are seemingly hunted by the rurales who want to question them about a tavern shooting in which a Mexican was killed. Bob still finds time to romance both Conchita, a diminutive yet spirited senorita, and Gloria, a bar-girl friend of the horse bandit; whilst Slim, who has saved some money, is vigorously pursued by his ex-wife Nina, a singer in the local cantina.
NOTES: Movie debut of Marjorie "Babe" Kane (not to be confused with Helen Kane).
VIEWER'S GUIDE: A fight between two wild stallions may disturb some people, but otherwise Border Romance is too quaint to offend.
COMMENT: This remarkably curious film certainly whets our appetite for more of the same. By the standards of the independent early sound western, it is not only lavishly produced but technically quite accomplished. There are no odd cuts, washed out photography or other evidences of primitive sound recording. Zech's rich photography exhibits a nice range of contrasts, the film editing is reasonably deft, and the recording of the songs, whilst obviously dubbed, is still agreeably proficient.
Even more curious is that the film belongs not to the William S. Hart and The Covered Wagon traditions of the silent western, but is firmly in the camp of Rio Rita and Girl of the Golden West. Not only do the characters break into incongruous if pleasing song at every likely and unlikely opportunity, but they play to each other as if they were acting on a stage. They project their voices with stage emphases, they exaggerate their facial expressions, and their movements are blocked out within invisible but still potent stage confines.
This said, Armida makes a most attractive little heroine. Fans of "Babe" Kane will not be disappointed either, though she has only the one quick song, followed by a typically snappy dance. Don Terry is a bit wet as the hero, whilst Potel and Barry overact as his sidekicks — particularly Potel, though he does have one or two genuinely funny lines.
If it's action and not song or comedy you're after, you will probably be a bit disappointed, despite the long shoot-out, riding- to-the-rescue climax. Which brings us to our final curiosity. It's an odd western indeed in which the comedy, romance and music are obviously regarded by all concerned as far more important than chases, fights and gun-play. In fact the songs are very tuneful indeed. Notice also that the music tends to play under the dialogue scenes whilst the action spots are left to the mercy of primitive sound effects.
The director: Richard Thorpe had already directed over sixty western features before "Border Romance". A devotee of the don't-make-it- good-make-it-Monday school of film-making, Thorpe was noted for his celerity in printing takes that other directors would have described as less than perfect. Thorpe always believed that striving for perfection was a waste of money and time. Mr and Mrs Average Picturegoer didn't know and couldn't tell the difference between Thorpe's okay first or second take and William Wyler's masterly 37th or 49th. Usually his films are staged with reasonable vigor but little imagination. "Border Romance" is less vigorous but more imaginative.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
