Blue Steel (1934)

Director:

Robert N. Bradbury

Writer:

Robert N. Bradbury (story)

Release Date:

10 May 1934 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

U.S. marshal John Carruthers observes a robbery and Sheriff Jake thinks he may be the culprit. Meanwhile the town's leading citizen is planning to rob everybody blind.

Plot Keywords:

Sheriff | Marshal | Arrest | Explosive | Deputy

Cast

John Wayne	...	John Carruthers
Eleanor Hunt	...	Betty Mason
George 'Gabby' Hayes	...	Sheriff Jake (as George Hayes)
Edward Peil Sr.	...	Malgrove (as Edward Peil)
Yakima Canutt	...	Danti - the Polka Dot Bandit
Lafe McKee	...	Dan Mason
George Cleveland	...	Hank - Innkeeper
Earl Dwire	...	Henchman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chris Allen	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Silver Tip Baker	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Barney Beasley	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Hank Bell	...	Stage Driver with Payroll (uncredited)
Ralph Bucko	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Horace B. Carpenter	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Lane Chandler	...	(uncredited)
Jack Evans	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Herman Hack	...	Henchman (uncredited)
Henry Hall	...	(uncredited)
Theodore Lorch	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Bud McClure	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Art Mix	...	(uncredited)
Perry Murdock	...	Henchman (uncredited)
George Nash	...	The Bridegroom (uncredited)
Herman Nowlin	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Artie Ortego	...	Henchman (uncredited)
Tex Phelps	...	Henchman (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert N. Bradbury		(as Robert Bradbury)

Writing credits
Robert N. Bradbury		(story and screen play) (as Robert Bradbury)

Produced by
Robert N. Bradbury	....	producer (uncredited)
Paul Malvern	....	producer (uncredited)

Cinematography by
Archie Stout		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
Carl Pierson		(edited by)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Glenn Cook	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
John Stransky Jr.	....	recordist (as J.A. Stransky Jr.)

Stunts
Yakima Canutt	....	stunt double: John Wayne (uncredited)
Allen Pomeroy	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Edward Cox	....	chief electrician (uncredited)
Joseph Walters	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Music Department
Lee Zahler	....	musical director (uncredited)

Other crew
E.R. Hickson	....	technical director
Trem Carr	....	vice president in charge of production (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Lone Star Productions (I) (presents)
• Monogram Pictures

Distributors

• Monogram Pictures (1934) (USA) (theatrical)
• Pathé Pictures International (1935) (UK) (theatrical)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• United American Video (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Hollywood Classics (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Take 2 Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Sinister Cinema (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Madacy Entertainment (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Madacy Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• GoodTimes Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Marengo Films (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Marengo Films (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Navarre Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Laserlight Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Treeline Films (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Elstree Hill Entertainment (2004) (UK) (DVD) (double feature with "Born to the West")
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (VHS)
• M.I.B. (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Passport International Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• Comet Video (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Comet Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Foothill Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Grapevine Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• VidAmerica (????) (USA) (VHS) (colorized)
• Voulez Vous Film (2010) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Balsley and Phillips  sound recording (uncredited)

Also Known As:

"Stolen Goods" - USA (alternative title)

Runtime:

54 min | USA:52 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:U | Norway:A (1935) | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Walker Ranch - 19152 Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall, California, USA

Company:

Lone Star Productions (I)

Trivia:

Malgrove's house is the same house as Juanita's house in The Desert Trail (1935) and as the Matlock ranch-house in The Star Packer (1934).

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Carruthers and Withers pursue the bandits across the plain, but fail to recognise Danti when he and Malgrove find them with the body of Dan Mason.

Quotes:

John Carruthers:I'm glad you decided to drift along with me. It's kind of lonesome trailing alone.

Movie Connections:

References The Lucky Texan (1934)

The second significant film in the development of George "Gabby" Hayes' cantankerous character

This western was the second significant film in the development of George "Gabby" Hayes' cantankerous character who emerged as the old whiskered comedy sidekick in the Hopalong Cassidy films. Gabby plays it straight here as a sheriff who even shoots a baddie. The only "funny" things about him are the hole filled hat he wears, his big walrus mustache, & his typical slurred speech. The acting is good all around, except for Eleanor Hunt, who has that cute Clara Bow look, but she's brought that old silent film style to this movie. I love the old B westerns, & aside from my favorite, Hopalong Cassidy, to me the early John Wayne series is the next best. This is not one of Wayne's best, but it's a must-see for Gabby Hayes fans. I rate it 6/10.