THE LUCKY TEXAN (1934), a Lone Star Production released by Monogram Pictures, written and directed by Robert N. Bradbury, stars John Wayne in his third poverty-row western for the studio. With one of those few in which he is not playing a "John" character, it also marked his third of twelve opposite George Hayes, later better known as bearded "Gabby Hayes" in Republic Studios western programmers. Once again it's a minor western (53 minutes) that has an interesting story where everything regarding the plot is briefed through short sequences with action holding precedence over material status.
The story gets underway where college educated cowboy named Jerry Mason (John Wayne) comes to the ranch to meet up with Jake Benson (George Hayes), whom he hasn't seen in many years. Looking for work and abiding the last request of his father to go stay with his best friend, Jerry learns that Benson's cattle was stolen by rustlers and forced to sell what was left. Regardless of circumstances regarding his ranch, both men team up by forming a blacksmith shop. Later, Benson's dog, Friday, digs up a gold nugget that has fallen from a horse's hoof. They locate more gold in a creek twelve miles out and get $848 for their finding by Harris (Lloyd Whitlock) and Joe Cole (Yakima Canutt), assayers and dealers in mines who, unknown to Benson, to be the ones having stolen his cattle and wanting to acquire the deed for ownership of his ranch. As the men continue to get money for their claim find, Benson unwittingly signs over his ranch deed to Harris. Benson later finds himself accused and arrested for the near murder of Mr. Williams (Gordon DeMaine), a banker with whom he deposits his savings for his blacksmith shop. Benson is released from jail after Jerry discovers and exposes Al (Edward Parker), a compulsive gambler with no winning streaks and son of the local sheriff (Earl Dwire), to be using Benson's money to pay off his gambling debts. After the arrival of his Utah college educated granddaughter, Betty (Barbara Sheldon), Benson becomes the victim of a robbery, gunned down and left for dead. Although innocent, Jerry is accused and arrested to face trial for this crime.
Aside from highlights involving fist fighting between hero and villain, along with well-staged climatic chase sequence, George Hayes provides some humorous results, especially after revealing he to once being a stage actor starring in the comedy play of "Charley's Aunt," to later don female attire from that production to disguise himself and believably posing as his own sister. For Barbara Sheldon's noted final movie role, this young blonde gets few scenes to garner any source of interest though she does become a source of interest to Jerry Mason's eyes.
THE LUCKY TEXAN was one of many of John Wayne's Lone Star westerns to surface after a long television hiatus in the 1980s, soon followed by availability on video cassette. Also available on DVD, THE LUCKY TEXAN did have its share of cable TV broadcasts, namely American Movie Classics (1997-2001), and Encore Westerns, among some others. Beware of new underscoring and colorized prints that hurts more than helps the viewing of this early John Wayne western. (**)
The story gets underway where college educated cowboy named Jerry Mason (John Wayne) comes to the ranch to meet up with Jake Benson (George Hayes), whom he hasn't seen in many years. Looking for work and abiding the last request of his father to go stay with his best friend, Jerry learns that Benson's cattle was stolen by rustlers and forced to sell what was left. Regardless of circumstances regarding his ranch, both men team up by forming a blacksmith shop. Later, Benson's dog, Friday, digs up a gold nugget that has fallen from a horse's hoof. They locate more gold in a creek twelve miles out and get $848 for their finding by Harris (Lloyd Whitlock) and Joe Cole (Yakima Canutt), assayers and dealers in mines who, unknown to Benson, to be the ones having stolen his cattle and wanting to acquire the deed for ownership of his ranch. As the men continue to get money for their claim find, Benson unwittingly signs over his ranch deed to Harris. Benson later finds himself accused and arrested for the near murder of Mr. Williams (Gordon DeMaine), a banker with whom he deposits his savings for his blacksmith shop. Benson is released from jail after Jerry discovers and exposes Al (Edward Parker), a compulsive gambler with no winning streaks and son of the local sheriff (Earl Dwire), to be using Benson's money to pay off his gambling debts. After the arrival of his Utah college educated granddaughter, Betty (Barbara Sheldon), Benson becomes the victim of a robbery, gunned down and left for dead. Although innocent, Jerry is accused and arrested to face trial for this crime.
Aside from highlights involving fist fighting between hero and villain, along with well-staged climatic chase sequence, George Hayes provides some humorous results, especially after revealing he to once being a stage actor starring in the comedy play of "Charley's Aunt," to later don female attire from that production to disguise himself and believably posing as his own sister. For Barbara Sheldon's noted final movie role, this young blonde gets few scenes to garner any source of interest though she does become a source of interest to Jerry Mason's eyes.
THE LUCKY TEXAN was one of many of John Wayne's Lone Star westerns to surface after a long television hiatus in the 1980s, soon followed by availability on video cassette. Also available on DVD, THE LUCKY TEXAN did have its share of cable TV broadcasts, namely American Movie Classics (1997-2001), and Encore Westerns, among some others. Beware of new underscoring and colorized prints that hurts more than helps the viewing of this early John Wayne western. (**)