SOMEWHERE IN SONORA

US, 1933, 59 minutes, Black and white.
John Wayne, Henry B. Wrathall, Shirley Palmer, Paul Fix.
Directed by Mack V. Wright.

This is one of 11 films that John Wayne made in 1933. This time it is a Western but a contemporary western, with settings on a range, scenes of a rodeo, a visit to a mine in Sonora, riding through rocky desert and a confrontation with an arch-villain.

While all this takes place in just about an hour, there are action sequences with the rodeo, in John Wayne having to prove his expertise with a knife and a gun when the villain is contemplating hiring him, then fighting the villain – although, as he is lined up for execution, the Mexican cavalry arrive having been alerted by Wayne’s horse, Duke, ringing the bell at the mining village to alert everyone to the attack.

John Wayne is still rather stilted in his screen presence and acting performance. The son of the rancher is played by a young Paul Fix who was to act with Wayne in many westerns over the next 40 years.

There are two offsiders at the ranch who serve as a comic duo – often rather more silly than funny. The quick romance is not as credible as intended. Nevertheless, interesting as another small milestone in John Wayne’s career – 36 years before his Oscar in True Grit.