Human Targets (1932)

The Dale's need money for their sick mother and Bart Travis, having found gold, says he will provide it. Duke Remsden learns of the strike and waylays Buzz Dale as he tries to record Bart's... See full summary »

Director:

J.P. McGowan

Writer:

George Morgan (story)

Stars:

Buzz Barton, Pauline Parker, Ralph Bushman

Cast

Cast overview:
Buzz Barton	...	Buzz Dale
Pauline Parker	...	Nellie Dale
Ralph Bushman	...	Bart Travis (as Francis X. Bushman Jr.)
Edmund Cobb	...	Duke Remsden (as Edward Cobb)
Franklyn Farnum	...	Sheriff (as Franklin Farnum)
Ted Adams	...	Deputy
Nanci Price	...	Marjorie
John Ince	...	The Doctor
Fred 'Snowflake' Toones	...	Snowflake (as Fred Toones)

Storyline

The Dale's need money for their sick mother and Bart Travis, having found gold, says he will provide it. Duke Remsden learns of the strike and waylays Buzz Dale as he tries to record Bart's deed. Then dressed as Bart, Duke kills and robs a man. With the Sheriff after Bart, Buzz escapes capture, finds the clothes worn to impersonate Bart, and heads for the Sheriff.

---

Plot Keywords:

rin tin tin | dog

---

Genres:

Western

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 January 1932 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Big 4 Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

56 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is believed lost. Please check your attic.

---

Soundtracks

"Ain't Going Back No More"
Sung by Fred 'Snowflake' Toones

User Reviews

clunky early-sound western with weak leading characters

As the previous reviewer stated, despite the title, this is not an animal film. Human stars Buzz Barton (a teen) and Francis X. Bushman Jr. don't have much presence, and the continuity is confusing. There is a good supporting cast (Edmund Cobb, John Ince, and the unforgettable Black actor Fred "Snowflake" Toones, who sings a country song (and well, too!) in one scene, and tries to out-Stepin Stepin Fetchit in the rest of the film), but not much else to offer. I've been watching some of director J.P. McGowan's late-silent films recently, and at his best he's quite efficient and creates a good pace with some interesting shots, but this must have been a for-hire job that he wasn't really into very much. As a fan of low-budget indie westerns of the early 30's, I'd put this is the lowest 25% of early-sound westerns. It may not be lost, but it's not worth finding or spending the time to watch.