The Lawless Frontier (1934)

Mexican outlaw Zanti killed John Tobin's parents. John teams up with Dusty, also hurt by Zanti, to get the bad guy.

Director:

Robert N. Bradbury

Writer:

Robert N. Bradbury (story)

Stars:

John Wayne, Sheila Terry, Jack Rockwell

Cast

Complete credited cast:
John Wayne	...	John Tobin
Sheila Terry	...	Ruby
Jack Rockwell	...	Sheriff Luke Williams
George 'Gabby' Hayes	...	Dusty (as George Hayes)
Jay Wilsey	...	2nd Zanti Henchman (as Buffalo Bill Jr.)
Yakima Canutt	...	Joe - Zanti's Henchman
Gordon De Main	...	Deputy Miller (as Bud Wood)
Earl Dwire	...	Pandro Zanti Posing as Don Yorba

Storyline

Tobin is after the bandit Zanti who killed his parents. He finds him just as Zanti is about to kill Dusty and kidnap Ruby. Saving the two, he goes after Zanti. He catches him but Zanti escapes the Sheriff's handcuff's and this time Tobin has to chase him into the desert.

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Plot Keywords:

bandit | escape | chase | mexican | sheriff | 

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Genres:

Romance | Western

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 November 1934 (USA)

Also Known As:

Das Gesetz des Stärkeren

Filming Locations:

Kernville, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lone Star Productions (I), Monogram Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

59 min 52 min (worldvision print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Balsley and Phillips Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

During the chase scene, just before Ruby's horse goes down, a highway bridge is visible in the distance between the trees.

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Quotes

The Sheriff: You're a slick, cunning wolf, Zanti, but I finally got ya.
Pandro Zanti: You forgot, Señor Sheriff, wolves run in packs. And mine is not far behind.

User Reviews

Wayne Versus the Frito Bandito

The most die-hard worshippers of John Wayne will cringe when they watch The Lawless Frontier. Even for a poverty row studio, this one is one stinkeroo.

Unusual for a western we have a criminal who is a sex crime perpetrator. Earl Dwire plays a halfbreed white and Indian who for reasons that are not explained, pretends he's a Mexican, hokey accent and all. Dwire sounds like the Frito Bandito of advertising fame back in the day.

He and his gang happen upon Gabby Hayes and his daughter Sheila Terry. They really don't have anything worth robbing, but Dwire just wants an excuse to kidnap Terry and have his way with her. She hears the dastardly fate she has in store and she and Hayes flee the ranch.

Where they happen to meet John Wayne who's on the trail of the bandits. They also run into one very stupid sheriff who believes Wayne is one of the bandits. Again for reasons I can't quite fathom.

It was a tough way to earn a living grinding out horse operas like these for the Duke. Fortunately better things were on the way.