DbcultAccessing Vault...
5.1/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.1/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. 'Neath the Arizona Skies remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have an hour to kill and really love black-and-white westerns where everyone wears giant hats, sure. If you need a tight plot or character development, skip it. This is strictly for people who want to see a very young Duke Wayne punching guys in the dirt. It is not going to change your life, but it won't ruin your afternoon either.
The whole thing feels like it was put together with scraps. You can almost hear the director yelling at everyone to just keep moving so they can finish before the sun goes down. It’s got that specific 1930s western energy—lots of squinting at the horizon and horses that look like they’d rather be eating hay somewhere else.
John Wayne is, well, he’s John Wayne. He’s got that walk down already, even when he’s just standing there waiting for the next line of dialogue. The kid, Shirley Jean Rickert, is fine, I guess, though she’s mostly just there to be the thing everyone is chasing. The bad guys are about as subtle as a brick to the forehead.
There is this one scene where a car shows up and it feels like the most advanced technology in the world compared to the horses. It’s funny how these movies try to balance the old frontier vibe with whatever was modern in 1934. It doesn't really mesh, but that’s part of the charm.
If you like this sort of thing, you might also want to look at Just Pals, which has a similar "let’s get from point A to point B" energy. It’s a bit less dusty but carries that same budget-conscious spirit.
It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s definitely not boring. Sometimes you just need a movie that doesn't try to explain itself too much. It just is. And sometimes, that's enough for a Tuesday night. 🤠