mark.waltz
Vaudevillian Joe Cook brings a little song and a little dance while sidekick Robert Cummings rips his pants. Cook is actually practically a one man side show, featuring circus acts, cons and a few musical numbers, turning Cummings over to a shopkeeper, basically turning the shop upside down. Cook pursues flighty Marjorie Gateson while milquetoast Cummings strives to capture the heart of sweet June Martel while both deal with corrupt locals. This creaky B western comedy may strive for amusement, but laughs are few and far between, and the sound recording is less than stellar. The best performance is by a friendly elephant who appears to be a kleptomaniac. Buster Crabbe is Cummings' rival for Martel's affections as well as her inheritance. Cook strives for laughs but his antics only bring groans. Original novelist Zane Grey should have arranged for the wagon train robber in the opening scene to swipe the script. Even the novelty of young Cummings as a clumsy romantic hero misses the mark here thanks to the stupid situations he finds himself in. Oh, and why does the shopkeeper not question why there's sugar all over the store floor after Crabbe leaves with Martel and Cummings spills it all over while trying to take the bundle outside?
