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6.3/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.3/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Branded remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Okay, so if you're into old-school Westerns, the kind where the good guys always have a moral compass and the bad guys are just bad, then 1931's Branded might just be your Saturday afternoon treat. It's not going to blow anyone's mind, but it's a solid watch if you've got a soft spot for Buck Jones and a craving for simple justice on the range. If modern, gritty Westerns are more your speed, or you just can't stand black-and-white, you'll probably want to give this a pass.
The whole setup with Dale (Buck Jones) and his sidekick Swede (Milton Brown) is pretty classic: they break up a stage robbery, trying to be heroes, and then, wouldn't you know it, get arrested for the very crime they stopped. It's one of those movie logic things, but it gets the ball rolling fast. Buck Jones, playing Dale, has this very earnest way of looking confused when he's arrested. You almost feel bad for him.
Their escape from jail is… well, it's efficient. No big drama, just a quick out. You kinda wonder if the guards were just taking a long coffee break. ☕️
Once they hit a new town, things kick off again. They almost immediately make an enemy of this fella named Moore (Philo McCullough). Moore is just a naturally sneering villain, no real nuance to him, which works for this kind of film. He just hates Dale for, what seems like, no clear reason, beyond Dale being a generally good person. That’s enough, I guess.
Swede, Dale's pal, is a real highlight. He's got some great lines, mostly exasperated comments about their constant bad luck. He’s the one you find yourself rooting for when things get sticky. His expressions are gold.
There's a scene in a saloon where Moore's henchmen are trying to corner Dale. Dale just smashes a chair over one of them. It's a quick, no-nonsense move that felt surprisingly **punchy** for its time. Not a lot of lingering, just gets right to it.
Then a Sheriff (Wallace MacDonald) rides into town looking for them. He’s not exactly on their side, but he’s not entirely against them either. It adds a bit of that familiar Western tension, where you’re never quite sure who to trust.
Of course, you can't have a Western without some horse action. Buck Jones's famous horse, Silver, gets plenty of screen time. One shot during an escape just focuses on Silver, galloping hard. It’s like the director knew the horse was half the star power. 🐴
The final chase through the hills, with Moore and his gang hot on their heels, is pretty standard stuff. Lots of galloping, some dusty stunts. You can practically feel the dust in your throat watching it. It’s all very straightforward, no real surprises, but that's part of its charm.
The dialogue is very much of its era. Short, to the point. Nobody wastes time with long speeches. It’s kinda refreshing, actually. The whole thing feels like it was made with a clear idea: tell a simple story, get to the action, and let Buck Jones be Buck Jones.
Is it a masterpiece? Nah. But it’s an honest, unpretentious Western that does exactly what it sets out to do. Sometimes, that's all you need.
IMDb —
1918
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