His First Command (1929) Poster

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6/10
Can a vacuous playboy manage to make himself into a man?
planktonrules29 January 2024
Through the 1920s and well into the 1930s, WIlliam Boyd was a successful actor...but also one that wasn't super famous. He made a decent living but his stardom went into orbit once he became Hopalong Cassidy in a series of 66 B-westerns. "His First Command" is one of many, many pre-Hoppy films in which Boyd starred.

Terry Culver (Boyd) is a rich young playboy whose primary interest seems to be women. However, when he becomes smitten with a Cavalry unit's commander, he joins the army just to impress her...which seems pretty strange for a playboy. For much of the picture, he seems like a bit of a jerk...though ultimately he gets a chance to prove himself a hero.

In many ways, this film is very reminiscent of the films William Haines was making at the time. Such playboy roles were common for him, as well as him going from a blowhard to an all around great guy and getting the girl. Overall, a decent little film...not great though quite entertaining and worth your time.
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Tame early sound romcom.
Mozjoukine29 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Interesting credits and it's twenties sound film origins work up some anticipation for this one and the the film seems to be setting up some kind of service comedy but just runs on to a lame conclusion.

Hoppy is a celebrated playboy whose exploits with chorus girls the papers follow. His dad is big in rubber. He encounters Sebastian (Mrs. Boyd) when her hunt pack mount pulls up.

Boyd meets her father, camp commander Col. Alphonse Ethier and resolves to join the army to win Sebastian.

Unfunny comic scenes follow - Boyd casually presuming on his acquaintance with Ethier and being set to salute a post represented as General Pershing a hundred times by Sgt. Hurst, a group of recruits deciding that the they are all there because of woman trouble (cf. Nie weider liebe), cleaning stables and Boyd falling in the water hazard when his horse balks.

We are getting on for an hour now, so we have the wind up, an (undercranked) Overland Cavalary Race with horsemen pouring across the countryside and young Helen Parrish falling in their path. Bill rescues her, leading to a half baked happy ending

Largely played in unedited wide shots occasionally butted onto one another, this just about hold attentions though it has no real impact as comedy, romance or action movie.

Hard to relate it to La Cava's best work beyond a certain lightness of touch.
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