Frontier Days (1934)

Henry Jethrow is after the Wilson ranch. He has George Wilson unknowningly sign a note for the ranch, has him killed, and then presents the note. The Pinto Kid, investigating cattle ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert F. Hill

Writers:

Norman Springer (story), Robert F. Hill (screen play)

Stars:

Bill Cody, Ada Ince, Wheeler Oakman

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bill Cody	...	The Pinto Kid
Ada Ince	...	Beth Wilson
Wheeler Oakman	...	Henry Jethrow
Bill Cody Jr.	...	Bart Wilson (as Billy Jr.)
Franklyn Farnum	...	George Wilson
Lafe McKee	...	Hank Wilson
Victor Potel	...	Deputy Tex Hatch (as Vic Potel)
William Desmond	...	Sheriff Barnes (as Bill Desmond)
Robert McKenzie	...	Casey (as Bill McKenzie)
Harry Martell	...	Deputy Rio (as Harrison Martel)
Chico	...	Chico - Pinto Kid's Horse

Storyline

Henry Jethrow is after the Wilson ranch. He has George Wilson unknowningly sign a note for the ranch, has him killed, and then presents the note. The Pinto Kid, investigating cattle rustlers, accidentally drops his glove at the murder scene and now has a price on his head. He has Beth Wilson turn him and use the reward money to reclaim the note. Now he has to escape jail and find the real killers.

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Plot Keywords:

escape | banker | murder | rustler | reward | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 November 1934 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Altmount Pictures Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

61 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Even though the story is taking place during stagecoach days, in one sequence the principals enter and leave the Bank of America, Lone Pine Branch, as it looked in 1934, with trademark BofA name and lettering on the doors and windows.

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Quotes

Deputy Tex Hatch: We'll try to bring you to trial, Pinto, but the mob's bent on lynchin'.

User Reviews

Bill Cody, not Buffalo Bill Cody

Bill Cody was one of the first Saturday matinée cowboys to gallop across the big screen, first in silent films, then in several cheaply made talkies in the early 1930's. His name really was William Cody but as far as can be determined he was not related to the famous Buffalo Bill Cody. The moniker helped Bill Cody get his foot in the door and it's likely he would not have starred in any oaters had he been born with a different name.

"Frontier Days" is actually one of Bill Cody's best sound features. That's still not saying a whole lot since he is often credited with having made the worst B western of them all "The Border Menace" in 1934. His real-life son Bill Cody, Jr., helps the picture by giving it a little more zest and energy. In this film, Cody, Jr., plays the younger brother of Beth Wilson (Ada Ince in one of her few movie roles). He's always teasing his sister who becomes struck on the Pinto Kid (Bill Cody). Bart Wilson (Cody, Jr.) takes a liking to the Pinto Kid and continues to stand up for him even when he is framed for the murder of Bart and Beth's father by the bad guys led by Henry Jethrow (Wheeler Oakman) who is determined to get the Wilson ranch using any means possible. Wheeler Oakman plays Jethrow in a manner reminiscent of the Snidely Whiplash type villain popular in the melodramas of the silent era. The Pinto Kid is determined to save the ranch, win the lovely beth, and find the ones who killed her father.

The film is excruciatingly slow moving for a shoot-em-up most of the time. There are a few good fights to liven things up but they are too few and too far between the talking. Bill Cody was one of the fastest of the cowboy pugilists. His style, since he was a fairly little fellow, is similar to the best fighting cowboy of them all Bob Steele. It appears that the cameras used fast speed to make Cody look even quicker whereas Bob Steele's fights seemed to be at normal speed.

Bill Cody also wore a big hat that looked more like a sombrero, similar to one that silent cowboy star Tom Mix wore from time to time. He also rode a little pinto, Chico, who was billed second to Cody in the credits, hence his stage name the Pinto Kid.

The dialog is stilted and much of the acting seems to be a hold over from the silent days even though this film was released in 1934 when most talky actors had either adjusted to the new medium or had fallen by the wayside. The actors spend too much time expressing their feelings by exaggerated eye movements and facial and physical expressions the way it was done on the silent screen.

This film is somewhat of a curio, but still worthwhile for western fans who have never seen a Bill Cody movie. His fisticuffs are entertaining.