Western Wednesdays: Two-Fisted Law (1932)

     Two-Fisted Law was released by Columbia Pictures on June 8th, 1932. Produced by Irving Briskin and directed by D. Ross Lederman it is based on a story by William Colt MacDonald (best known for writing the Three Mesquiteers series of novels). It is one of many westerns that Tim McCoy starred in for Universal between 1931 and 1935.

      In this film McCoy plays Tim Clark, a rancher who is cheated out of his rancher by Wheeler Oakman's Bob Russell. Returning home after two years he finds that Russell is now trying to take take the ranch belonging to his girl (Alice Day's Betty Owen) as well. When Tim gets in the way of Russell's plans he is framed for robbing the express office and murdering the clerk. Tim must work fast to clear his name and buy back his ranch from Russell. 

     Two-Fisted Law has a rather flimsy plot. Once he comes back from his prospecting, Clark is in supreme command of the situation, having obtained ample money with which to buy back his ranch and being skilled enough with his gun that Russell's henchmen are afraid of him. Because of this, the filmmakers have to keep coming up with obstacles to get in his way and then contriving an easy solution. In one scene Tim goes to the express office to look for clues that might exonerate him and conveniently finds a piece of paper with a bloody boot print that no one else noticed. He is suspected, in part, because of the large sum of money he gives to Russell to pay off Betty's debt. He obtained this money from the silver mine he discovered during his absence but doesn't bother to inform the sheriff of this until the end of the film. 

      This all makes for some erratic pacing. The general structure of the film is to have the villains come up with some ploy to either kill Tim or have him arrested, only for him to easily overcome them time and time again. It should be noted the the version I watched was edited for TV and about 7 minutes were cut from the film (this seems to be the only version currently available). It is possible that these pacing issues were less egregious the full length version. Alas, I may never know.

     The film does boast a pretty impressive cast. How many other westerns can claim to unite an established star like McCoy with young, not yet famous actors like John Wayne and Walter Brennan, both of whom are in fine form here. The film also features the always reliable Wheeler Oakman as the heavy and Tully Marshall, a veteran of the silent era, as the beleaguered sheriff who is forced to go against Clark in spite of his better judgement. Both do a fine job. Alice Day is a bit of a weak link as the love interest, delivering her lines rather woodenly at times. McCoy, of course, is great in the lead, even if he can't shoot straight to save his life. He has such a natural virility and quiet, confident presence and he commands your attention whenever he's onscreen.  

 

 

     D. Ross Lederman's direction is pretty strong. He and cinematographer Benjamin H. Kline (who helmed many of the Rin Tin Tin serials for Mascot pictures) utilize an unusual amount of camera movement for a film from this period. There are plenty of chase scenes and shootouts spread throughout the picture and there fairly well done, though the former do suffer from the use of sped up frame rates, an all too common tactic for action pictures in this period. 

     All in all Two-Fisted Law is a bit of a mediocre western, though it has its merits. I'd recommend for fans of McCoy or those who want to see a young John Wayne and Walter Brennan on screen together.

Score: 6/10