Scarlet River (1933)
6/10
Time to get away from those standing studio sets and the cowboys that can't ride.
19 May 2024
Warning: Spoilers
What better way to create a realistic looking western then head out to the hills and find a ranch that hasn't been seen on film before? At only 54 minutes, this elegant looking B action comedy is lots of fun and gives a plethora of amusing character people opportunities to ham it up without seeming ridiculous. At the same time, the movie going public gets to see how these movies are made, and the results succeed enormously.

Western star Tom Keene is tired of the humdrum way his films are being made, so when he discovers a local ranch surrounded by some realistic sets that aren't obviously styrofoam boulders or mountains, he gets director Edgar Kennedy up there and a deal is set. Dorothy Wilson lives at the ranch and becomes involved with the somewhat egotistical Keene who needs a bit of taming.

Ranch hand Roscoe Ates (fortunately without the stutter) wants to be a writer, but it's the picture of the ranch he sent that gets the studio's attention. There's a subplot of goings on at the ranch involving villainous foreman Lon Chaney Jr. (billed as Creighton) in cahoots to sabotage Wilson, enough intrigue for the next script. Certainly better than most low budget early 30's westerns, definitely one of the more unique.
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