Item: A Texas Cowboy
Rating: 6.6
Author: Archivist John

Should you actually sit through this?

If you are a fan of Bob Steele or you just have a weird obsession with 1920s westerns where people spend a lot of time looking at pieces of paper, then sure. It is a quick watch.

Most other people will probably find it a bit dry because there is way more legal drama than actual cowboy action. If you want something with more energy, you might be better off watching The Strong Man instead.

I watched this on a Tuesday night when I couldn't sleep. It felt like the right kind of movie for that mood.

The Brute Kettle Problem

First off, the villain’s name is Brute Kettle. That is easily the best part of the whole movie.

He looks exactly like a guy who would try to steal a widow's ranch. He has this way of looming in the corner of the frame that is actually kind of creepy.

He gets a guy named Bennett to forge a letter saying Dick doesn't want the ranch anymore. The scene where they are sitting at the desk doing the forgery is so long.

I found myself wondering if they were actually writing or just doodling. The camera just stays on them.

It reminded me a bit of the slow pacing in The Dreamer, but without the artistic intent.

Bob Steele being Bob Steele

Dick Carlysle is played by Bob Steele, and he is just so young here. He has this intense energy even when he is just standing by a horse.

He comes home and realizes everything is wrong. His mom, played by Grace Stevens, looks perpetually worried.

I felt bad for her. She married this Brute guy and immediately looks like she regrets every life choice she has ever made.

There is a scene where Bob has to react to the news of the marriage. He does this little squint that I think was supposed to be emotional heartbreak but it mostly looks like he has dust in his eye.

To be fair, there was probably a lot of dust on that set.

The Specifics of the Ranch

The ranch itself looks like a real place, which I appreciate. It doesn't have that fake, polished Hollywood look.

I noticed a fence in the background of the main yard that looks like it is about to fall over. No one fixes it during the movie.

It bothered me more than it should have. Like, if you are fighting for this land, maybe fix the fence?

The horses are great, though. They seem more professional than some of the secondary actors.

There is one horse that keeps shaking its head during a serious conversation. It totally steals the scene.

Is it better than other westerns?

It is definitely better than His Own Law in terms of the actual film quality. But it still feels like a 'B-movie' through and through.

The writing by Sally Winters is pretty standard stuff. There are no big surprises.

You know Brute is going to lose. You know Dick is going to save the day.

The way they handle the forgery reveal is a bit clunky. It just kind of happens.

I wish there was a bit more of the slapstick energy you see in something like Pop Tuttle's Tac Tics. This movie takes its plot very seriously.

Random bits I wrote down

The title cards are a bit plain.
Why does everyone wear such huge hats indoors?
Brute Kettle’s mustache deserves its own credit in the cast list.
The lighting in the house scenes is actually okay for 1929.

There is a moment near the end where a character gets really angry. They start waving their arms around like they are trying to swat a fly.

It made me laugh out loud. I don't think it was supposed to be funny.

It has that unintentional charm that old silent films get when the actors try too hard to emote without sound.

If you have seen Mister Antonio, you know how these late silent-era films can feel a bit stuck between two worlds. A Texas Cowboy is definitely stuck.