To the Last Man (1933)

In Kentucky just after the Civil War, the Hayden-Colby feud leads to Jed Colby being sent to prison for 15 years for murder. The Haydens head for Nevada and when Colby gets out of prison he heads there also seeking revenge. The head of the Hayden family tries to avoid more killing but the inevitable showdown has to occur, complicated by Lynn Hayden and Ellen Colby's plans to marry.

Director:

Henry Hathaway

Writers:

Zane Grey (story), Jack Cunningham (screenplay)

Stars:

Randolph Scott, Esther Ralston, Jack La Rue

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Randolph Scott	...	Lynn Hayden
Esther Ralston	...	Ellen Colby
Jack La Rue	...	Jim Daggs
Buster Crabbe	...	Bill Hayden
Barton MacLane	...	Neil Stanley
Noah Beery	...	Jed Colby
Gail Patrick	...	Ann Hayden Stanley
Egon Brecher	...	Mark Hayden
Muriel Kirkland	...	Molly Hayden
Fuzzy Knight	...	Jeff Morley
James Eagles	...	Eli Bruce (as James C. Eagles)
Eugenie Besserer	...	Granny Spelvin
Harlan Knight	...	Grandpa Chet Spelvin
Jay Ward	...	Lynn Hayden - as child

Storyline

In Kentucky just after the Civil War, the Hayden-Colby feud leads to Jed Colby being sent to prison for 15 years for murder. The Haydens head for Nevada and when Colby gets out of prison he heads there also seeking revenge. The head of the Hayden family tries to avoid more killing but the inevitable showdown has to occur, complicated by Lynn Hayden and Ellen Colby's plans to marry.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | feud | revenge | showdown | zane grey | 

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Taglines:

Two families at war . . . to the last man!

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Genres:

Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 September 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

Law of Vengeance

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Valley, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During a scene that called for Shirley Temple to hold a tea party in a barn, a mule in the barn began eating the sugar cubes on the table. Director Henry Hathaway recalled, "Shirley was irritated and tried to shoo him away. Then this mule got irritated. He turned around, and with his two back legs he hauled off at her with a kick. Shirley ducked and he missed, but instead of stopping or running away, she strode over and kicked the mule back."

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Quotes

Judge: Jed Colby, you have been found guilty. But on account of peculiar circumstances and feelings in the community, the court has decided not to have a hanging. But you'll have to go to the State Penitentiary for 15 years for the murder of Judd Spelvin.
Jed Colby: Murder? Why, it was feudin', pure and simple!

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Crazy Credits

The opening credits feature the names and titles on printer-press paper...

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Connections

Version of To the Last Man (1923)

User Reviews

Not a typical Western

It would be a shame if no strong print of Hathaway's "To The Last Man" survives, because it is far from a typical western-it could fairly be called "pre-code"- and it stands with Walsh's failed "The Big Trail" as an attempt to make a "grown up" adult Western.

Like "The Big Trail" , "Last Man" has one for in the formal styles of Silent Film. What sets it apart is it's theme of decency finally caving in to humanities thirst for revenge and violence. The brutality of the film, both in terms of violence and emotional cruelty, is formidable. It all leads to an ending that, despite the upbeat coda, is truly apocalyptic.

Worth going out of your way to see; but it is too bad there is no quality print.