Greased Lightning (1928) - Tea, Biscuits, and Cowboys in a Silent Western

If you're looking for a deep cinematic experience that changes your life, keep walking. Greased Lightning is not that movie, but it is definitely worth a look if you're into those old silent westerns that don't take themselves too seriously.

It's perfect for a lazy Sunday when you want to see some 1920s stunts without having to think too hard. People who hate silent films will probably find it boring, but honestly, it’s short enough that it doesn’t overstay its welcome. 🤠

The whole thing starts with Diana Standish, played by Betty Caldwell, coming out from the East to take over her grandpa's ranch. She has these ideas about making it a 'dude ranch' which basically means the rough cowboys have to wear fancy clothes and serve biscuits.

There is this one shot where Johnny Parker (Ted Wells) has to carry a tea tray and he looks like he wants to crawl into a hole and die. His face is just pure misery. ☕

I love how the movie handles the 'culture clash' between the city girl and the ranch hands. It's all very broad and silly, like a sketch that goes on for about ten minutes too long.

Betty Caldwell is actually pretty good here, even if her character is kind of a brat at the start. She has this very expressive way of moving that makes you forget there’s no sound.

Then you have the villain, Dick Merrihew. What a name for a crooked lawyer, right? Walter Shumway plays him with that classic 'I am definitely the bad guy' energy that you only get in movies from 1928.

He wants the ranch for himself, obviously. He's got these rustlers working for him, stealing cows while the cowboys are busy learning how to pour tea correctly. It’s a bit of a stretch to think the cowhands wouldn't notice a whole herd of cattle disappearing, but hey, that's movie logic for ya.

The pacing is a bit weird. It starts off like a comedy about manners and then suddenly turns into a high-stakes action movie with horse chases and gunfights. It reminded me a little of The Blue Eagle in how it tries to mix different genres together without much warning.

I noticed that the horses in this movie seem faster than usual. Mabye it’s just the frame rate of the old film, but they look like they’re going about 100 miles an hour during the final chase.

The stunts are actually pretty impressive when you think about the fact that they didn't have CGI or safety wires. Ted Wells does some riding that made my own knees ache just watching it. 🐎

There’s a scene where the rustlers are hiding out in a canyon and the lighting is surprisingly good. It’s all dusty and high-contrast, giving it a much grittier feel than the tea-party scenes earlier on.

I wonder why these old westerns always had a character named 'Johnny' or 'Buck'. You look at the cast list and it’s just Buck Bucko and Roy Bucko. It feels like a family business at that point.

The movie is alot like Daring Deeds in the way it handles the 'hero saves the girl' trope. It’s predictable, sure, but there’s a comfort in that.

One thing that bothered me was how the lawyer’s plan was actually kind of smart, but he gets caught because of the most basic mistake. He just leaves incriminating stuff lying around like he wants to get arrested.

The cowhands are the best part of the movie, honestly. They have this great chemistry where they’re all equally annoyed by the tea-and-biscuits situation. It feels like a real group of guys who have worked together for years.

If you've seen The Coast of Opportunity, you'll recognize some of the same visual beats. These low-budget westerns from the late 20s all kind of bleed together after a while, but this one has enough personality to stand out.

I think the director, William Berke, knew he wasn't making a masterpiece. He just wanted to give people a good time for an hour.

There’s this weird moment where a cow wanders into the background of a serious conversation and just stares at the camera. Nobody bothered to reshoot it. I love stuff like that. It makes the movie feel alive.

The ending is exactly what you expect. The bad guys get punched, the girl realizes the foreman is actually a great guy, and the ranch is saved. It’s simple. It works.

Don't expect Greased Lightning to be some lost work of art. It’s just a fun, slightly clunky relic from a time when movies were still figuring themselves out. If you can handle a bit of grain and some over-the-top acting, give it a go. It’s better than most of the stuff you'll find on late-night TV these days.