Blue Steel (1934)
0h 59m | PG-13
When Sheriff Jake sees a man at the safe and then finds the payroll gone, he trails him. Just as he is about to arrest him, the man saves his life. Still suspicious, he joins up with the man and later they learn that Melgrove, the towns leading citizen, is trying to take over the area's ranches by having his gang stop all incoming supply wagons. With the ranchers about to sell to Melgrove, the two newcomers say they will bring in provisions.
Director: Robert N. Bradbury
Studio: Monogram Pictures
Genre: Western, Action
Video: 720p
Cast
John Wayne
as John Carruthers
Eleanor Hunt
as Betty Mason
George 'Gabby' Hayes
as Sheriff Jake Withers
Edward Peil Sr.
as Malgrove
Yakima Canutt
as Danti, the Polka Dot Bandit
Lafe McKee
as Dan Mason
Reviews
Rather a bland little western this one - salvaged to some extent by a grumpy Gabby Hayes as the sheriff. He spots a suspicious character (John Wayne) near the safe, and when he discovers the payroll has gone decides to trail his potential culprit. It is only when he discovers things are not quite as they seemed and they join forces, does he realise that it is a local bigwig who is hijacking supplies to the town - in the hope that he can starve out his fellow landowners and buy them out for a song. It's done on a shoestring, the dialogue isn't really up to much and as with many of these old B westerns, a lot of single camerawork limits it significantly. It doesn't hang about for 50 minutes, but still manages to drag at times.