The Utah Kid (1930) User Reviews

Dorothy Sebastian and Boris Karloff

[kevinolzak · 6/10 · 16 March 2019]

1930's "The Utah Kid" was a Poverty Row Western from Tiffany Pictures, a small outfit that did over 100 features between 1921 and 1932 (one of their last was Bela Lugosi's "The Death Kiss"). The star was Rex Lease, a veteran of oaters on screen and television for five decades, but whose starring career would already peter out before the 30s were over. Here he's in his prime as wanted outlaw Cal Reynolds, managing to escape the sheriff's posse to make his way back to ringleader Butch (Tom Santschi) and the gang at the aptly named 'Robber's Roost.' No sooner does he walk through the door than henchman Baxter (Boris Karloff) enters with a rare treasure in these here parts, a pretty (and pretty desperate) maiden named Jennie Lee (Dorothy Sebastian), eyed lasciviously by every desperado in sight (the funniest bit in the picture). Naturally, Cal decides to challenge the status quo and proclaim the young beauty to be his fiancée, which would normally be enough except that the Roost happens to have its own parson (Lafe McKee), forced to perform the wedding ceremony on the spot. Jennie's dignity remains intact after a chaste honeymoon, galloping off with her husband's horse to her destination as schoolteacher. What she hasn't told Cal is that she's engaged to the sheriff on his trail, who wants not only him but the entire outlaw gang as well, rightly figuring that the horse knows its way back to the hidden Roost. Seems like a lot to occupy a mere 45 minutes (it's possible that 12 minutes could be missing but all you truly need is present), but it's a breezy and easy affair, despite the primitive outdoor techniques for fisticuffs. Dorothy Sebastian is hardly taxed by this standard 'girl in peril' who finds love in the strangest places, a career that deserved to be so much more than what she got. For today's audiences, the main interest is clearly seeing Boris Karloff in his sole talkie Western, often cast as villains during the silent era, later playing Native Americans in Cecil B. De Mille's "Unconquered" (set in the Ohio Valley of 1763) and Universal's "Tap Roots" (set in Mississippi during the Civil War). His voice sounds the same and he rides his horse with some confidence, plus it's one of his more sizable roles before "Frankenstein" with over five minutes on screen. This would have been a happy reunion between Dorothy and Boris, after recently costarring in Lionel Barrymore's creaky "The Unholy Night" aka "The Green Ghost," she the hysterical heroine, he sadly unbilled as her lovelorn solicitor.

A good way to catch up with Dorothy Sebastian.

[JohnHowardReid · 6/10 · 24 September 2017]

This oat-er has some novel ideas, is comparatively well made, and best of all, makes plenty of room for Dorothy Sebastian to make a few waves. Admittedly - and perhaps disappointingly for some people - Dorothy is a good girl here. Painfully good in fact. Almost a goody two shoes, who would not dream of even a two-second kiss without benefit of clergy. She is also none too flatteringly photographed, but she still comes over as a watchable lass and at least she has both a sizable and an important role.

Now you know why I purchased this quite enjoyable Alpha DVD, grandly titled "Karloff before Frankenstein". Both "Karloff" and "Frankenstein" are presented on the DVD cover in HUGE lettering despite the fact that Karloff's role is so small and inconsequential in this tale of "The Utah Kid" (played by Rex Lease), that if you blink, you will miss out on Karloff altogether. Even Lafe McKee's role is larger. Much larger!

I'm not complaining. This oat-er has plenty of action and it's a rare chance to catch Dorothy Sebastian in a sizable role as a goody two- shoes of the outback who wouldn't dream of even giving a man a fleeting kiss without benefit of clergy.

The movie is also well photographed on real locations, has plenty of action and was ably directed by Richard "Print It!" Thorpe of all people!

Frankenstein's Monster on horseback...

[arthursward · 4/10 · 23 April 2002]

This reviewer won't address the quality of this Tiffany release versus other Rex Lease oaters. My main motivation for seeking out this otherwise forgettable antique was to view Boris Karloff in one of the many different roles he took between 1929 and 1932.

The film opens with white-hatted Rex Lease (as Cal Reynolds) being chased by a posse. [Given the number of splices in this print, the film may be missing footage] His crime is never revealed and his horse clearly steals acting honors during this sequence, sending the posse the wrong way. Fortunately, Cal evades the law, gaining sanctuary at the "Crook's Hideout". Karloff (as Baxter) drags in a young woman at this point. Her presence is unexplainable, saying she followed Cal, but not why or how she's a better tracker than the posse. Enter Tom Santschi (as Butch) to claim the girl. Baxter objects and gets punched. Now, there was a time before sound effects made cowboy fists sound like firecrackers and this was it. Santschi punched Karloff. Hope they got it in one take! Anyhow, Cal MARRIES Jennie (played by Dorothy Sebastian) to save her from the black hats. Wish Jennie'd told Cal she's engaged to the sheriff...

It's classic antique talkie fodder, complete with scenes filmed at silent speed, out-of-focus shots and the cacophony of early RCA photophone. Karloff's got plenty of screen time and where he rides his horse into a scene watch him crash into Santschi's horse. Makes you wonder why Raoul Walsh's "The Big Trail" didn't clean-up at the ticket window that year.