Code of the Cactus (1939) User Reviews

Truck Rustlers

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 20 April 2012]

A poverty row outfit called Victory Pictures brings us Code Of The Cactus which true B western tradition has a title with nothing whatsoever to do with the film. Bette Davis in The Bride Came COD did more with cactus than this film did.

Code Of The Cactus is a modern day western where as they say cattle rustling has gone comparatively modern with the rustlers using trucks to take their stolen cattle. You have to keep up with the times, but the people in the west have the same code to deal with varmints caught rustling, string them up with out a trial.

Despite these draconian threats the rustlers operate with impunity so Tim McCoy better known as Lightnin' Bill Carson comes to the rescue. He's got a draw faster than Gene Wilder's in Blazing Saddles and McCoy handles the part the same way, very tongue in cheek.

But what really raises this horse opera a notch or two above the run of the mill ones is McCoy's droll way with this part as he uses a disguise as a Mexican fast draw artist and amiable thief. I think he might have studied Gilbert Roland in how to play the role.

Check this one out for sure, you won't be disappointed.

A McCoy winner - humorous and highly entertaining

[Paularoc · 7/10 · 20 June 2012]

Tim McCoy as "Lightening" Bill Carson poses as a Mexican rustler in order to catch the leader of a gang of rustlers. The leader Blackton (Forrest Taylor) has submitted the low beef bid to the army – the thing is he can't provide the beef for as low as he bid without stealing the cattle. The setting is contemporary and the rustlers use trucks to haul off the cattle. This is the second McCoy movie that I have seen where he disguises himself as a Mexican. Again, he pulls it off. It's funny but when McCoy is in disguise his personality shines – he smiles more, laughs more and is more animated with fewer of the steely eyed stares. He still never aims his gun when he shoots though. As much as I enjoyed this movie it did not have as interesting a supporting cast as other McCoys I've seen. Dave O'Brien was okay but to me, nothing special. Nonetheless, this is a B Western to be on the lookout for as it is highly entertaining.

Code of the Cactus review

[JoeytheBrit · 5/10 · 23 April 2020]

How could they not have called this movie Truck Rustlers!? In fact, what does Code of the Cactus even mean? Do cactuses communicate in code, or do they have a secret code of honour or something? This amiable programmer from Tim McCoy certainly sheds no light on the matter. With his mad staring eyes swiveling scarily between a 10 gallon hat and a comedy 'tache, McCoy makes a likeable but unlikely Mexican. His dialogue is pretty funny at times, but the story is tat, even if it does feature... Truck Rustlers! Yeah... raked forward with an exclamation mark.

Great cast, good script and story

[morrisonhimself · 10/10 · 13 January 2009]

Even though the version I was watching had a big bite taken out -- apparently at least one reel missing -- this was an exciting and very well done Western movie.

Starring Tim McCoy, one of the best of the cowboys, "Code of the Cactus" had a sterling cast, with such shining lights as Art Davis and Kermit Maynard among the uncredited.

Usually, I don't like mixing horses and trucks; it seems anachronistic.

This time, though, there is no conflict of eras or settings, and everything fits together.

It had been a long time since I had seen Col. Tim, and though I already knew he was a great cowboy, it turns out he's a pretty good actor, too.

And Art Davis, who has starred in some dismal features, showed here he could by gosh sing.

Too often, low-budget features limit the number of speaking parts, but "Code of the Cactus" has a plenitude of characters given a chance to show that, yes, they might be villains, but they're people too, and have their own individual personalities.

Ben Corbett is someone of whom I had known nothing, but he is obviously a talented actor.

My hero Dave O'Brien is here too, and even a bad movie is made better by his presence.

This is already a good movie, and Dave O'Brien with Tim McCoy makes it even a great movie.

I just hope that, when you get to watch it, it's all there.

Code of real cowboys and great actors

[frank4122 · 10/10 · 22 July 2019]

Is Tim McCoy 'Lightning' Bill Carson or undercover as Miguel? Popular mainstay villain and lead henchman Ted Adams tries to figure this mystery out before it's too late. Real life rodeo champion and Roman Rider, Ben Corbett needs the help of Lightning to protect his herd. His daughter Dorothy Short is being courted by Dave O'Brien. It works well because in real life they are married. Accomplished stage and silent actor, Forrest Taylor tries to put the kibosh on the whole thing in dramatic fashion. Even though he had a limited part, it was great to see the most prolific B western bad guy Slim Whitaker be on the right side of the law for a change. Great acting, real cowboys, and good humor make Code of the Cactus a most memorable film.

Exceptional for what is it...and rather funny.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 18 March 2011]

My score of 8 reflects that this is a wonderful B-series western--a genre that is usually typified by low production values and silly plots. For once, this is a film that breaks this mold and has a bit more to offer. Even if you don't normally watch this sort of film, this one is worth a look--especially to see Tim McCoy's wonderful performance.

Like so many of these series films, this one is very anachronistic--with cowboys and the like set in modern times. The plot involves mobster cattle rustlers who use trucks to steal cows! And, again in a modern twist, this is so they can sell the cattle to the government. As I said, it is weird to see such modern plots with the old look of the west.

Tim McCoy plays a federal agent who is being sent to investigate the thefts. However, in a very unusual twist, McCoy heads into action under cover--really, really undercover. He poses as a Mexican bandit and at first I didn't even recognize him because the outfit, makeup and his accent were really able to pull it off. Imagine, a cowboy hero like McCoy actually being able to act--now THAT's unusual. Some, I am sure, might be a bit put off my McCoy's broad Leo Carillo-style characterization, but I loved it--he was very funny and I didn't mind that he wasn't all that subtle because it worked.

As a result of McCoy's excellent acting(!) and a rather interesting script, I could ignore the anachronistic nature of the film and. I just sat back and enjoyed--far more than I ever expected. For fans of the genre- this is definitely a must-see--and, believe it or not, much more interesting than any Roy Rogers or Gene Autry film I've seen!

By the way, since watching this film, I saw McCoy play the same character in other films. Oddly, the first of these films is called "The Return of Lightning Carson"!

Yes, there is a Code of the Cacti

[i-shaolinmaster · 10/10 · 7 December 2020]

Hubby and I watch this movie a lot. We never get tired of the many Tim McCoy movies we watch. We, of course have memorized much of the dialogue and communicate with each other in the Code of The Cactus manner. Cacti communcate in ways only Westerners understand. Hubby got a spine through his boot and into his foot after a cactus communication. We, also, love Magpie (Ben Corbett) who is in many of the Tim McCoy movies. Mr. Corbett did 283 films in his career so he was a seasoned performer with loads of personality. This film is fun and good family entertainment in my opinion. The good guys always seize the day.

Fumbles A Novel Idea

[dougdoepke · 18 July 2019]

I hate to be a dissenting voice, but at best this is a mediocre oater or should I say ten-wheeler. Director Newfield appears unconcerned with the staging-- for example, O'Brien's wounded in one shot and fully recovered in the next, then there's the awkward opening sequence that fails to plausibly combine the sequences. As a former front-row kid, my enjoyment of these matinees doesn't depend on their logic, but I hate to have my nose rubbed in it.

McCoy plays an eye-rolling Mexican hero with some amusing pidgin Spanish like "You'll see me later" instead of "Adios". He goes undercover in order to break up a rustling ring and find out who's in charge. At the same time, there's quite a bit of hard riding that doesn't always make sense. On the other hand, the freight truck rustlers amounts to a dramatic and novel idea that carries the hour. There's also a lot of fast shooting. Too bad, however, so few gunslingers seem to aim, especially Carson, who looks like he's "throwing" his gun and bullets instead of aiming, (thanks Newfield).

Too bad we don't see more of O'Brien and especially his then wife, the lovely Dorothy Short-- after all the ugly guys, we need a girl break. Anyway, except for the truck angle and Art Davis's delightful way with a western song, it's a forgettable oater.