Aces and Eights (1936)

A cardsharp comes to the aid of a Mexican family.

Director:

Sam Newfield

Writers:

George Arthur Durlam (story), Joseph O'Donnell (screenplay)

Stars:

Tim McCoy, Luana Walters, Rex Lease

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Tim McCoy	...	'Gentleman' Tim Madigan
Luana Walters	...	Juanita Hernandez
Rex Lease	...	Jose Hernandez
Wheeler Oakman	...	Ace Morgan
J. Frank Glendon	...	Amos Harden (as Frank Glendon)
Charles Stevens	...	Captain Felipe de Lopez
Earle Hodgins	...	Marshal Tom Barstow (as Earl Hodgins)
Jimmy Aubrey	...	Sidekick Lucky
Joseph W. Girard	...	Don Hernandez (as Joseph Girard)

Storyline

Harden and Morgan are after Hernandez's rancho. They lend money to his son Jose which is then won back in a crooked poker game. But the notorious card sharp Tim Madigan now posing as Tom Harrington steps in to help Hernandez.

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Plot Keywords:

gambler | murder | son | saloon | cardsharp | 

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Taglines:

Gentleman Tim Deals A Death Hand In A Crooked Game!

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 June 1936 (USA)

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Puritan Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

62 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

The bartender in two separate saloon scenes, can be heard asking patrons "another one?" every five seconds.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: Wild Bill Hickok was a gunfighter who almost triumphed over death. His gun was drawn, his thumb had cocked the hammer, his cards were neatly stacked. It held two pair. And so it was from then on, aces and eights were called "the death hand." Cast in the same mold was another who, unlike Wild Bill, never carried a six-shooter, preferring to let agile fingers do his talking. From the Missouri to the Rockies he was known as Gentleman Tim Madigan and the aces and eights that spelled ...

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Soundtracks

"Heart's Desire"
(uncredited)
Music by J.S. Zamecnik (as Jules Reynard)

User Reviews

Solid B Western

The movie starts out with interesting stock footage of a wagon train and a very brief over narration telling about settling the west and the saga of Wild Bill Hickok and the significance of "aces and eights" as the hand Wild Bill was holding when he was shot and killed. Gentleman Tim Madigan (played by "he with the steely stare" McCoy) is a famous card sharp that travels the west with his sidekick Lucky (Aubrey). There are posters out warning other gamblers to be aware and avoid playing with Madigan - this even though he's an honest gambler and doesn't even carry a gun. Soon after riding into town, Madigan sees a crooked card sharp cheat a young Spanish man, nicknamed appropriately enough, "Spanish". Later the crooked gambler is shot and killed, "Spanish" thinks he did it and Madigan is accused of doing it. Madigan and Lucky are befriended by – and befriend – the Hernandez family. As it happens, "Spanish" is the Hernandez son. The family has been scammed out of their ranch. Madigan comes to the Hernandez family's assistance and plays poker in order to try and win back the deed. With the exception of Luana Walters (how did she keep getting roles?), the supporting cast is uniformly good as was McCoy. The running gag with Lucky that if he throws a seven with the dice, it will be a good day and if not, it won't be was a nice touch. Of special note is Earl Hodgins as Marshall Tom Barstow – his performance was very entertaining.