Gun Law: A dusty, weird little B-Western

Is it worth your time?

If you like short, punchy B-Westerns from the thirties, you’ll probably have a decent time with Gun Law. It’s not going to change your life, but it’s lean and doesn't waste much breath. If you hate movies where the sound quality sounds like it was recorded inside a tin can or you need complex character arcs, skip it.

There is something inherently sad about these old ranch dramas. You’ve got these tough guys, the Sonora Kid and his pals, suddenly stuck playing house because a blind woman can’t tell the difference between her son and a drifter. It’s awkward, kind of sweet, and mostly just uncomfortable.

Jack Hoxie has that specific kind of stoic face that doesn't really move even when he’s being threatened by a whole gang. He’s fine, but let’s be honest—the real star is Dynamite the Horse. There’s a moment where the horse has more personality than half the supporting cast, and it’s not even trying.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Gun Law (1933) through its definitive frames.

The pacing is fast. Maybe a bit too fast? You barely get to settle into the ranch setting before Nevada Smith shows up to start trouble. The villains here are the standard "I’m going to squint and wave a gun" type. It reminds me a bit of the simplicity in Hills of Hate, just with less scenery and more dirt.

Odd little observations:

• The dialogue feels like it was written on a napkin during a lunch break.
• The blind mother character is played with such sincerity that it makes the rest of the movie feel like a cartoon.
• There is a scene where a guy is supposed to be hiding, but he's standing in plain sight for way too long.
• The shadows in the ranch house are so dark you can’t tell who is walking through the door half the time.

It’s funny to compare this to something like On with the Show, which felt like a massive production compared to this backyard setup. Gun Law knows exactly what it is. It’s a 50-minute diversion that doesn't try to be a meditation on anything. It just wants to get from the shoot-out to the resolution.

Is the plot logical? Not really. Why would you stay on the ranch and risk your life just because an old lady is confused? The movie doesn't care. Neither did I, mostly.

The ending is a bit abrupt. One minute people are yelling, the next it’s over and everyone is riding off. I felt like I missed a frame or two. But hey, that’s just how these old reels go sometimes. 🤠