Blue Steel (1934)

U.S. marshal John Carruthers observes a robbery and Sheriff Jake thinks he may be the culprit. Meanwhile the town's leading citizen is planning to rob everybody blind.

Director:

Robert N. Bradbury (as Robert Bradbury)

Writers:

Robert N. Bradbury (story) (as Robert Bradbury), Robert N. Bradbury (screen play) (as Robert Bradbury)

Stars:

John Wayne, Eleanor Hunt, George 'Gabby' Hayes

Cast

Complete credited cast:
John Wayne	...	John Beaumont posing as John Carruthers
Eleanor Hunt	...	Betty Mason
George 'Gabby' Hayes	...	Sheriff Jake Withers (as George Hayes)
Edward Peil Sr.	...	Malgrove (as Edward Peil)
Yakima Canutt	...	Danti - the Polka Dot Bandit
Lafe McKee	...	Dan Mason
George Cleveland	...	Hank - Innkeeper
Earl Dwire	...	Henchman

Storyline

When Sheriff Jake sees a man at the safe and then finds the payroll gone, he trails him. Just as he is about to arrest him, the man saves his life. Still suspicious, he joins up with the man and later they learn that Melgrove, the towns leading citizen, is trying to take over the area's ranches by having his gang stop all incoming supply wagons. With the ranchers about to sell to Melgrove, the two newcomers say they will bring in provisions.

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Plot Keywords:

cowboy in tight pants | cowboy horse relationship | u.s. marshal | bridge blown up | investigation | 

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 May 1934 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Lei do Gatilho

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paul Malvern Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

54 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The earliest documented telecasts of this film took place in Cincinnati Monday 19 September 1949 on WCPO (Channel 7), in Los Angeles Wednesday 26 October 1949 on KTSL (Channel 2) and 4 December 1949 on KECA (Channel 7), in Philadelphia Monday 31 October 1949 on WFIL (Channel 6), and in New York City Monday 17 July 1950 on WOR (Channel 9).

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Goofs

Five bandits attack Betty Mason and her father and the mule train, but only three pursue them across the plain.

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Quotes

[a bashful couple approach the hotel desk clerk]
Hank, innkeeper: Just sign Mr. and Mrs. right there. I suppose you folks would like the bridal chamber?
The bridegroom: [smile in embarrassment] How much?
Hank, innkeeper: Well, we always get two dollars for the bridal chamber. You see, it's the best in the house.
[Bridegroom pays]
Hank, innkeeper: And please be as quiet as possible! The man next to you gets up at five.

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Connections

Edited into Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch (1976)

User Reviews

The Lone Star Stock Company Rides Again!

"Blue Steel" is one of a series of "B" westerns made by John Wayne in the 1933-35 period. As with most entries in the series, these Lone Star productions had a stock company all their own.

Robert N. Bradbury (father of Bob Steele) directed most of them. The supporting cast usually consisted of George "Gabby" Hayes, Earl Dwire and Yakima Canutt playing various roles. A definite asset to the series was Canutt who doubled Wayne and perfected many of his legendary stunts in these films. Unfortunately, he also "acted" in many of them.

This one starts out amid a driving rain storm. John Carruthers (Wayne) seeks shelter by sneaking into a hotel run by a sleeping Hank (George Cleveland). Also seeking shelter is Sheriff Jake (Hayes) who is after The Polka Dot Bandit. As luck would have it, the bandit (Canutt) robs the safe while everyone is sleeping and Jake sees Carruthers going through the safe after the bandit escaped and thus blames him for the robbery.

Jake trails Carruthers to a cabin and is about to arrest him when they hear shots. Now it seems town boss Malgrove (Edward Piel) and his gang are preventing supplies and ammunition from reaching town. Betty Mason (Elinor Hunt) and her father (Lafe Mckee) are attempting to bring in the latest shipment when they are ambushed and the father is killed. Carruthers and Jake rescue Betty and bring her to town where it seems Malgrove has taken a special interest in her.

Well, needless to say, Carruthers sorts things all out by the final fade out and everyone except the bad guys, lives happily ever after.

Wayne was still honing his skills at this time and it shows at times, but he was getting better with each picture. Hayes played a number of roles in this series from villain to father of the heroine to sidekick to lawman. He had not yet arrived at his "Gabby" character although Sheriff Jake was pretty close. Earl Dwire has a minor role as one of Piel's henchmen.