The Adventures of Texas Jack (1934)

Starring: Wally Wales, Buffalo Bill Jr

Director: Denver Dixon (Victor Adamson)

Studio: Security Pictures, Ltd.

PLOT SUMMARY:

After bringing in another prisoner, Captain Bodie (Duke R. Lee) instructs Texas Jack (Wally Wales) and his sidekick Blister Sanderson (Al Mix a.k.a. Victor Adamson) to track down the ruthless Mayberry gang who've been terrorizing the countryside. Jack and Sanderson stumble upon two of the bandits (Buffalo Bill, Jr. and Jack Evans) trying to make a clean getaway. Sanderson and Jack steal their horses and head to the express office which the gang recently robbed. While there, they find pretty Lucy (Victoria Vinton) and her brother who were victimized by the gang. Slimy Parsons (Duke R. Lee) frames Lucy's brother for the robberies and has him jailed. Jack and Sanderson set about finding the true culprits of the crime.

FILM REVIEW:

Blisterin' bobcats, where to start with this one. First, the print I viewed of The Adventures of Texas Jack was near unwatchable and appeared to have been used to strain spaghetti, making this a rough watch. Secondly, according to my friend and fellow historian Ed Hulse, The Adventures of Texas Jack was originally planned as a feature to be directed by the notorious Victor Adamson, who also stars in the film as the sidekick to Wally Wales. Like many Adamson projects produced around this time, Adamson ran out of money and edited what was shot into a sixteen minute, incomprehensible mess. This was going to be the first in a series of such films produced by Adamson's Security Pictures, however the remaining films never materialized as the western short film was waning in popularity with exhibitors.

The editing of this film is absolutely abysmal, there are random needle-drops inserted into the soundtrack at various points throughout the film for little reason other than to cover-up much of the footage which was likely shot without sound. Even without knowing the backstory of the production, one could tell this was an unfinished product. There is a massive plot twist which occurs at the end of the film which comes from nowhere and the capture of the main villain, as played by Duke R. Lee in a dual role, only takes up two seconds worth of screentime. I referred to the film as a mess in my previous paragraph, but to call The Adventures of Texas Jack a mess would be an insult to the bedrooms of hoarders everywhere! The acting is simply awful from everyone involved, even the great Wally Wales feels tired in his role of hero. Also, why was it that Buffalo Bill, Jr. (Jay Wilsey) was so schizophrenic in his roles on film? One minute, he's the dashing hero in one film and in the next he's a grisly villain!

I feel so sorry for poor old Vic Adamson, he tried his darndest to prolong his life as a filmmaker but the powers that be ensured that his journey would be paved with rocky terrain. Earlier in the history of this blog, I reviewed his 1928 silent western The Old Oregon Trail, an underwhelming film on the surface but when one takes into consideration the minimal budget (and I mean minimal, only $900), the film is nothing short of impressive. Fast forward to 1934 and 1935 and Adamson's best days were clearly behind him. He constantly ran out of money and either clumsily edited footage from unfinished projects together to create a short film (The Adventures of Texas Jack), or a gruelingly long feature (The Rawhide Terror). Adamson would soon hang up his hat for good and stick to playing small character parts and would go on to assist his son Al in his quest to be a filmmaker like dear old dad.

There is no heart and absolutely no soul to be found in this woefully misguided misfire. Unless you are a glutton for punishment and curious to see how bad a western could be, by all means check out The Adventures of Texas Jack, but remember: curiosity killed the cat!

Until next time, pardners!

Westward Bound (1930)

Starring Buffalo Bill Jr., Buddy Roosevelt

Director: Harry S. Webb

Studio: Syndicate Pictures, Corp.

PLOT SUMMARY:

After engaging in yet another barroom brawl, Senator Lansing (William Marion) sends his rambunctious son Bob (Buffalo Bill, Jr.) and his friend Ben (Ben Corbett) out west to start life anew. Unfortunately for Bob and Ben, they are not only robbed of their motor vehicle but also their clothes by local ruffians. As it turns out, those ruffians are in cahoots with a cattle rustling ring led by Jim (Yakima Canutt) and they've been stealing cattle from Marge Holt's (Allene Ray) Bar "O" ranch. Ben and Bob, along with Holt's loyal ranch foreman Frank (Buddy Roosevelt) take charge after the rustlers and seek justice.

FILM REVIEW:

Westward Bound, released in 1930 by bottom-rung Syndicate Pictures, is more interesting due to its cast than its overall story. This early talkie is just as creaky and statically-shot as others produced at this time but that just adds to the overall charm of the picture. This film gives two of the screen's lesser known cowboy heroes an opportunity to team up, those being Buffalo Bill, Jr. (real name Jay Wilsey) and Buddy Roosevelt. Along for the ride you have the great Ben Corbett as Bill's saddlepal and the legendary Yakima Canutt as a gang leader.

Sadly, the charismatic Roosevelt is all but wasted in this picture. Indeed, even though he is second billed on publicity materials, he seldom factors in to the story, which is a shame as this was a golden opportunity for both Buffalo Bill, Jr. and Roosevelt to exact justice western-style. As for Buffalo Bill, Jr. himself, he is just going through his paces, his heart clearly not into putting its all into the film's production. He gets a few opportunities to exude charm but is mostly sleep-walking through the picture. The other actors are just as wooden and lifeless with only Allene Ray giving any energy to the proceedings. I simply love her making Buffalo Bill, Jr's life miserable and she is seemingly enjoying herself while doing so.

Buffalo Bill, Jr. was an enigma having been bestowed that moniker by enterprising low-budget producer Lester F. Scott, Jr. It should be noted that this Buffalo Bill, Jr. bears no relation to the more well known Buffalo Bill, Jr. as portrayed by Dickie Jones on television in the 1950's. Buffalo Bill, Jr. started in silent westerns and later held a distinction of starring in several low-budget westerns for Victor Adamson and Superior Talking Pictures including the infamous Lightning Bill (1934), a film so remarkably poor that even its opening title card is misspelled "Lighting Bill."

Although a later film, the sequences of Bill and Corbett frolicking through the countryside in their underwear gave me eerie flashbacks to the Robert J. Horner magnum opus The Phantom Cowboy (1935, Aywon). However, Corbett is ten times the talent that the hackneyed Jimmy Aubrey ever was.

Overall, Westward Bound is only of interest to those who are knee-deep into the "B" western genre and enjoy the work of the stars presented. Otherwise, it's probably best to skip this one.

Until next time, pardners!