The Wide Open Spaces (1931) User Reviews

The Masquers

[boblipton · 8/10 · 23 August 2004]

This short is one of four of the shorts produced by the Masquers Club and distributed by RKO in the early 1930s, now available on DVD from Encore Home Video.

This wild burlesque of westerns was directed by Arthur Rosson. It stars Ned Sparks in his usual frozen-faced performance, as the sheriff, Antonio Moreno as the Mexican bandit -- sort of -- and a host of silent comics and straight performers. It uses every cliché in the book to comic effect and throws in lots of gags while remaining a well-directed and photographed movie. If you love silent movies, slapstick comedy or playing 'spot the star' this one will be a real treat for you.

Funny as all get-out!

[JohnHowardReid · 8/10 · 18 July 2014]

"The Wide Open Spaces" (1931) was produced by The Masquers Comedy Club of Hollywood to give their members - both known and unknown - a chance before the camera. It is a delightful two-reeler in which all the clichés of the Hollywood western are laughingly exposed. Dorothy Sebastian in a blonde wig is the "B"-girl who sets the ridiculous plot a-whirling, skillfully fielding lines with Sheriff Ned Sparks and a huge company of supporting players including Tom Dugan and Claude Gillingwater. The direction, in the skillful hands of Arthur Rosson, was as neat a comedy job as you could expect with over a hundred players jostling for recognition. True, a few of the jokes misfire, but what does it matter when ninety-seven of the hundred succeed so admirably? Production values leave nothing to be desired. In all, this 20-minutes two-reeler is a must-have item for any film buff's collection – and it's included as an extra on Alpha's "Cheyenne Kid" DVD.