Under Montana Skies (1930) User Reviews

More about vamping than the 'ol west.

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 13 July 2015]

If you are looking for a western, you might just want to keep looking. While the film is set in the west, it's got little to do with cowboys or anything else you'd expect. Instead, it's about a troupe of performers from back east who are having difficulties putting on a show because of a couple grouchy locals. So how do they deal with them? Nice-guy Clay (Kenneth Harland) suggests they use allegations of sexual misconduct or vamping to get what they want! Now that's a great object lesson for the kiddie! In addition to this super-weird plot and all the vamping, there is a local gang who wants to see the show put on--because they plan on stealing the box office receipts! All in all a very strange concoction and an odd old fashioned film to boot.

In addition to being weird, the film itself is rather dull. It's not terrible but approaches this due to some very indifferent acting and a couple musical numbers that are ancient when seen today.

Not a Singing Cowboy

[boblipton · 7/10 · 14 August 2003]

....But a surprisingly good off-kilter Wester as the hero bails out a show of jazz chorines and helps them put on a show. There are some fairly good musical interludes, including the surprisingly sweet "Underneath Montana Skies" and Slim Summerville is in his usual reliable form as comedy relief.

An unexpected delight!

[JohnHowardReid · 9/10 · 14 May 2018]

Kenneth Harlan (Clay), Slim Summerville (Sunshine), Dorothy Gulliver (Mary), Nita Martan (Blondie), Harry Todd (Abner Jenkins), Ethel Wales (Martha Jenkins), Charles King (Blake), Lafe McKee (Sheriff Pinkie), Christian J. Frank (Bill), Frank Ellis, Bob Reeves, Slim Whitaker (henchmen), Hank Bell, Si Jenks (spectators), Tom Bay (cowhand), George Plues (stage driver).

Director: RICHARD THORPE. Screenplay: James A. Aubrey, Bennett Cohen. Story: James A. Aubrey. Photography: Harry Zech. Film editor: Carl Himm. Art director: Ralph M. DeLacy. Sound recording: John Stransky jr. RCA Photophone Sound System.

Copyright 6 September 1930 by Tiffany Productions, Inc. No recorded New York opening. U.S. release: 10 September 1930. 5,273 feet. 58 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: When their manager does a flit without paying their hotel bill, a troupe of twenty showgirls are stranded in a small western town. A kindly cowpoke who has an eye for pretty girls (especially a somewhat sullen one called Mary) decides to help them out.

COMMENT: An unexpected delight, this lively little western has stacks of thrilling chase action, some so-so comedy, and - would you believe? - a batch of bright and breezy musical numbers.

Kenneth Harlan makes an engaging if somewhat curious hero, Dorothy Gulliver is moody enough for the heroine (though considerably outshone by the talented vamp, Nita Martan), whilst Slim Summerville provides the mild bits of knockabout.

The villains are a great lot too. Charles King is actually more animated (and less stocky) than usual, while Harry Todd does the comic heavy rather well, particularly in his scene with Nita.

Good old Richard Thorpe has staged both action and songs with delightful verve, ably assisted by Himm's extra-sharp film editing.