The Lawless Frontier (1934)

Director:

Robert N. Bradbury

Writer:

Robert N. Bradbury (story)

Release Date:

22 November 1934 (USA)

Genre:

Romance | Western

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Bandit | Escape | Chase | Mexican | Sheriff

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tommy Coats	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Herman Hack	...	Henchman (uncredited)
Arthur Millett	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Artie Ortego	...	Henchman (uncredited)
Tex Phelps	...	Henchman (uncredited)
Lloyd Whitlock	...	Background Townsman (uncredited) (archive footage)

Directed by
Robert N. Bradbury		(as R.N. Bradbury)

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

Produced by
Paul Malvern	....	producer (uncredited)

Cinematography by
Archie Stout		(photography)

Film Editing by
Charles R. Hunt		(film editor) (as Charles Hunt)

Art Direction by
E.R. Hickson

Sound Department
Ralph Shugart	....	recordist

Stunts
Yakima Canutt	....	stunt double: John Wayne (uncredited)
Tommy Coats	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Parker	....	stunts (uncredited)

Music Department
Sam Perry	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Lone Star Productions (I) (presents) (A Paul Malvern Production)
• Monogram Pictures

Distributors

• Monogram Pictures (1934) (USA) (theatrical)
• Pathé Pictures International (1935) (UK) (theatrical)
• Spotlite Video (1985) (USA) (VHS) (For Republic Pictures Home Video)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• United American Video (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• Madacy Entertainment (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• United American Video (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Madacy Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• GoodTimes Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Films Around the World (II) (2002) (USA) (TV)
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (VHS)
• Reel Media International (2005) (worldwide) (TV)
• Passport International Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Classics Associates Inc.
• Comet Video (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Foothill Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Fox Lorber (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Liberty Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• VidAmerica (????) (USA) (VHS) (colorized)
• Worldvision Enterprises (????) (USA) (TV) (syndication)

Other Companies

• Balsley and Phillips  sound recording

Also Known As:

Runtime:

59 min | USA:52 min (worldvision print) | Germany:46 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Balsley and Phillips Sound System)

Certification:

Norway:A (1935) | USA:Passed

Filming Locations:

Kernville, California, USA

Company:

Lone Star Productions (I)

Goofs:

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

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.

Hayes to Wayne, "I got a girl in the sack, and I can't swim."

Secret passages, dynamite explosions, lots of hard riding, and the great team of Hayes and Wayne, so what else can a front-row kid turned old geezer ask for. Nothing. The movie's got it all. Okay, the plot's got more crazy twists than a corkscrew and Earl Dwire's Mexican accent is the worst until Larry Storch's Gunfever (1958), but who cares. It's Wayne at his likable peak and Hayes's Gabby is about three-quarters complete. Some great stunts, as expected from a cast that includes maestro Yakima Canutt, along with a leading lady who really can ride (one bad trip-wire stunt, my only complaint). Watch for the unexpected and humorous twist when Wayne takes a short-cut to nail Dwire. Sometimes these programmers can surprise you. I guess kids don't play cowboy anymore. Computers have taken away imaginary play. Too bad. Now, if I were just x years younger, I'd strap on my cap pistol, get my stick horse and join up with the posse. But first I got to get me one of those really big, big hats.