Or at least that is what this precode western implies. Richard Arlen plays a cowpoke falsely accused of murder and rescued by outlaw Jack Kells (Jack Holt) before he can be hanged. As some misled sense of gratitude Arlen's character, Jim Cleve, takes up with Kells' band of outlaws, The Border Legion. The Legion kidnaps a girl, Fay Wray as Joan Randall, mainly to get information out of her. Cleve's job is to guard Joan, but he falls in love with her. Things come to a head between Kells and Cleve after Kells attempts to rape Joan, after he realizes that she has no information, or what she has she is not telling. When Cleves finds out he mounts a horse and now he is AGAINST the Legion, running into town and telling the sheriff and his men of the Legion's whereabouts and the fact that they have Joan. However, the sheriff recognizes Cleves and refuses to believe him.
It's rather ironic that Zane Grey wrote this story, because the characters here are extremely gray. Kells is apparently the kind of man that doesn't mind murdering in the pursuit of thievery, but will sacrifice his life for a friend just hours after trying to rape that friend's best girl. Cleves is a hero that is hard to get behind because he is all for helping Kells take things that belong to others, but that all changes when the girl he loves is involved.
At any rate, the film is somewhat refreshing for a 30s western because it doesn't have the tired clichés of the bad guys being very bad and wearing all black, and the good guys being very good and having glistening teeth and wearing all white. Also, remember this is one of the early sound westerns since westerns could not be made for awhile in the very early years of talking pictures - everything was filmed inside due to equipment limitations. I'd recommend it if you can ever find a copy.
It's rather ironic that Zane Grey wrote this story, because the characters here are extremely gray. Kells is apparently the kind of man that doesn't mind murdering in the pursuit of thievery, but will sacrifice his life for a friend just hours after trying to rape that friend's best girl. Cleves is a hero that is hard to get behind because he is all for helping Kells take things that belong to others, but that all changes when the girl he loves is involved.
At any rate, the film is somewhat refreshing for a 30s western because it doesn't have the tired clichés of the bad guys being very bad and wearing all black, and the good guys being very good and having glistening teeth and wearing all white. Also, remember this is one of the early sound westerns since westerns could not be made for awhile in the very early years of talking pictures - everything was filmed inside due to equipment limitations. I'd recommend it if you can ever find a copy.
