This has historical interest as the first talking western and the first talking movie with outdoors scenes. You can see in several scenes that the filmmakers were eager to show off the possibilities of the new sound techniques, like when having a group of characters singing or when frying eggs and bacon.
Apart from that, the story itself is interesting, although the action slows down too much in the middle of the movie. We get a lot of flirting and talking, until we get to the unexpectedly harsh twist ending. I have read that the technical limitations of the early sound recording may have resulted in avoiding the kind of action scenes we are used to in later westerns.
The acting, when viewed with modern eyes, is still stilted in a silent-movie kind of way. But there is some charm in this story, and also a sensation of authenticity in some details that come from being filmed close to the actual historical period.
Rating: 6 of 10
Apart from that, the story itself is interesting, although the action slows down too much in the middle of the movie. We get a lot of flirting and talking, until we get to the unexpectedly harsh twist ending. I have read that the technical limitations of the early sound recording may have resulted in avoiding the kind of action scenes we are used to in later westerns.
The acting, when viewed with modern eyes, is still stilted in a silent-movie kind of way. But there is some charm in this story, and also a sensation of authenticity in some details that come from being filmed close to the actual historical period.
Rating: 6 of 10