TO THE LAST MAN

US, 1933, 74 minutes, Black and white.
Randolph Scott, Esther Ralston, Jack La Rue, Buster Crabbe, Barton Mac Lane, Noah Beery, Gail Patrick.
Directed by Henry Hathaway.

To the Last Man is based on a Zane Grey story. It is an early film director Henry Hathaway (36 years later he directed John Wayne to an Oscar for True Grit) and had a very successful career during the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s.

This is also an early film for Randolph Scott, who does not ride into the story until almost 20 minutes have passed. The film takes place at the end of the Civil War, family feuds and murders in Kentucky. When the law imprisons the patriarch of a family, Colby (Noah Beery) for 15 years, he wants revenge and pursues the Hayden family to Nevada, stealing their cattle, preparing for the confrontation. He is assisted by a sinister friend from prison, Jack La Rue.

On his way home, Randolph Scott encounters Ellen Colby (Esther Ralston) and they fall in love, not without some clashes, not without her father confronting her, but her standing her ground and, ultimately, uniting the two families in peace.

In the meantime there have been quite a number of fights and shootouts. Uncredited is a supporting role from John Carradine and, for those not in the know, it will be a surprise to find five-year-old Shirley Temple as the granddaughter in the family.

1. The popularity of Civil War stories in the 1930s? Film versions?

2. The basic production values, echoes of the silent period? Some stilted performances? The film going into action after the early sequences and becoming interesting?

3. Black-and-white photography, captions, the names of the characters during the action, style of the time? Musical score?

4. The title, the indication of feuding families, killings not being murder but the result of feuds? Families becoming involved, vengeance, killings, shootouts?

5. The end of the Civil War, the little boy and his grandfather, hunting, Colby shooting the grandfather? The vengeance of the grandmother, eye for an eye? The father, his decision to go to the law, the lawyer early warning about feuds, Colby sentenced to 15 years?

6. The Hayden family, migrating to Nevada, building up their ranch? The sons and the daughter growing order? Marriages, children? The peaceful life?

7. Colby, getting out of prison, his work with Daggis, tracking down the family, the moving to Nevada, the stealing of the cattle? Daggis and his work with Colby, yet intent to betray him?

8. The life of the family, the different generations, work, the children?

9. Lynn, riding, the encounter with Ellen, the swimming, Daggis and his roping him? The friendship between the two, the discovery of the families, Ellen and her harsh reaction? Lynn and his bringing the gift of the dress? Ellen and her wanting to be a lady? Her relenting about Lynn? The meetings?

10. Colby, the plan for the confrontation? Daggis and his henchmen, the dynamite in the hills?

11. Colby and his men riding to the Hayden ranch? Everybody prepared to fight? The little boy rescuing the dogs? Little girl sitting outside and the shot? Bill and his being taken, tied, dead on his horse?

12. Lynn and the others, and the women, all shooting? Following the group, into the hills, the dynamite, the avalanche? Lynn surviving? The top of the mountain, Daggisd and his killing Colby?

13. Lynn surviving, meeting with Ellen, his being wounded, Daggis and his confronting Ellen, planned marriage? Lynn falling on him with a knife? The final photos of the happy couple at the end?