The Boiling Point (1932)

Starring: Hoot Gibson

Director: George Melford

Studio: Allied Pictures Corporation

PLOT SUMMARY:

Jimmy Duncan (Hoot Gibson) is a cowboy with a horrendous temper. One night, after engaging in a destructive barroom brawl, Duncan's uncle George (George "Gabby" Hayes) sends the angry young lad to work on Tom Kirk's (Lafe McKee) ranch. While there, Duncan falls for Kirk's beautiful daughter Laura (Helen Foster). Unfortunately for Duncan, Laura is engaged to slimy bank cashier Holt Norbo (Wheeler Oakman) who, unbeknownst to the Kirks, is the ringleader of a gang robbing the bank. Duncan wants to exact his revenge upon Norbo, but knows if he loses his temper he will lose his ranch. Duncan must find a way to unmask Norbo without fighting him in the process.

FILM REVIEW:

As with many of Hoot Gibson's Allied Pictures productions, The Boiling Point is a lot of fun. Hoot is in his prime here, displaying his raw charisma that made him so beloved by audiences. There are many clever bits of business throughout the film including the sequence where Hoot uses a stick to get the drop on Wheeler Oakman's gang. This is one of those Hoot Gibson pictures where Hoot must be a pacifist until the very end of the picture, much like the previous year's The Hard Hombre, another Gibson Allied production.

Hoot and leading lady Helen Foster also exude great chemistry together and are delightful to watch. One of my favorite sequences in the film is when Wheeler Oakman is trying to woo Foster in the backyard of the Kirk ranch, Hoot keeps interrupting them by tussling with a bull who broke loose. There is also a great sequence where Hoot saves his friend Stubby, portrayed by the multitalented Billy Bletcher, from falling off a cliff. Wheeler Oakman is perfectly scummy as the villain of the piece and it's always delightful to see Lafe McKee pop up, especially in these early pictures. It's also cool to see a pre-Gabby George Hayes portraying the Hooter's uncle!

Overall, I recommend The Boiling Point. Sure, the plot is a tired one you've seen countless times before, but Hoot's special brand of humor and charm is what makes this film so fun. In other hands, this would be a lesser film but every Hoot Gibson Allied I've seen has been tremendous fun. Heavily enjoyed The Boiling Point, not one of Hoot's best but certainly better than later pictures like Frontier Justice, previously reviewed on this blog.

Until next time, pardners!