WITHOUT HONOUR

US, 1932, 66 minutes, Black and white.
Harry Carey, Mae Busch, Gibson Gowland, Mary Jane Irving, Ed Brady, Jack Richardson.
Directed by William Nigh.

A very small-budget westerns from the early 30s. While the studios had adapted to sound, westerns like this were still fairly basic, especially in the placing of microphones in static person-to-person sequences. This slows the action – especially when star Harry Carey always pauses before speaking and speak slowly. However, there are some outside action with horses and chases.

The plot concerns a gambler who is on the side of the law. His brother is murdered and framed as part of a bank robbery. The gambler begins to investigate, while also playing his games and winning. His very friendly with the owner of a saloon, makes contact with a suspicious character and is appealed to by his stepdaughter whom he treats with cruelty. There is also a wealthy bank manager.

There is an ultimate resolution with everybody present, a bit like solving murder mystery. The wealthy bank manager is revealed as the mastermind of the plot, especially with the use of a pet dog and his coat being filled with money and travelling easily across the Mexican- American borders. The bank manager has also forged a document giving him possession of a farm which belongs to the owner of the saloon – and ultimate reconciliation with her long lost daughter who is the young woman cruelly done by.

The director, William Nigh, went on to make a number of crime thrillers.