weezeralfalfa Review of Born to the West

Born to the West (1937)

Wayne, as a gambling addict, is a risky choice for Judy

[5/10 · 20 June 2018]

Also known as "Hell Town". Between John Wayne's period of making non westerns for Universal in late '36 and '37, and his return to making B westerns for Republic in '38, he was the lead character is this Paramount B western, based on a Zane Gray story, and directed by B movie -specialist Charles Barton. It was photographed mostly in the famous Alabama Hills, below Mt. Whitney, or in Kernville, in the southwestern Sierras. In addition to Wayne, as Dare Rudd, we have frequent starring cowboy Johnny Mack Brown, as Rudd's cousin Tom Fillmore, Marsha Hunt, as Judy Worstall: the love interest for both Rudd and Fillmore, Monte Blue as Bart Hammond: the saloon owner and the brains behind the local rustlers. Also, the uncredited crooked gambler Buck Brady. Shockingly, Syd Saylor, Wayne's constant sidekick Dinkey Hooley, is also uncredited! ........Wayne and Hooley were wandering in Wyoming, after cowpunching in Montana. In a running gag, Hooley also claims he's a lightening rod salesman, and is frustrated that no one in this dry climate wants one. Finally, he tries to sell one to a man out in the boondocks, who claims he is an agent for the lightening rod company......Tom, also a bachelor, is the local big man, with the largest cattle herd, and president of the bank. He also is a prospective husband for Judy. He met Wayne and Hooley when they accidentally joined the rustlers in a shootout with his wranglers. Wayne also takes a liking to Judy, brashly asking her several times if she will marry him. He becomes a hero to her when he rescues her from her runaway horse, spooked by a rattlesnake. Later, she claims that she could have stopped her horse any time she chose. She just wanted to experience him chasing her. Actually, Tom also was in the chase, but his horse stumbled, perhaps symbolizing that he would lose out to Wayne in their competition for Judy. Later, she tells Tom she loves Wayne more than any other man, despite his faults, although she also complements Tom. If I were Judy, I'd definitely favor Tom as a husband. He's well established and steady. We don't know if Wayne can cure his gambling addiction. .......Although Wayne is addicted to gambling with cards, and claims he's the best poker player west of the Mississippi, he keeps losing his shirt! That is brought out most forcefully when he loses nearly all the $10,000. he received for selling Tom's cattle, to the crooked cardplayer Buck Brady. Luckily, Tom arrived just in the nick of time and took Wayne's place at the table. He began winning, then caught Brady cheating and, drawing his gun, demanded that Brady give back all the money he won from Wayne. Soon after, Tom is shot, although not mortally. With Hooley, the 3 of them skedaddle before they are again attacked. Hammond's men chase them on horseback, eventually engaging in a shootout. The 3 miraculously survive against the odds. Tom then offers Wayne a partnership with him....... If this sounds OK, see it at YouTube.