Put 'Em Up (1928) Review - A Dusty, Honest Little Western

If you have about an hour to kill and you don't mind the flicker of 1920s film stock, Put 'Em Up is actually a pretty good time. It is perfect for anyone who likes seeing horses run really fast and guys in big hats pointing fingers at each other. If you can't stand silent movies or get bored when there aren't explosions every five minutes, you should probably skip it.

The movie starts with a stagecoach, because of course it does. In these old Westerns, the stage-coach is basically the only way anyone gets anywhere, and it is always a magnet for trouble. 🤠

Tom Evans is our hero, played by Fred Humes. He has one of those faces that just looks honest, even when it’s covered in trail dust. He and his buddies are just hanging out when they see Lannister’s men move in to intercept the coach.

One of the bad guys is a fellow named Mullins. Man, I really didn't like this guy. He starts bothering Helen Turner, who is just trying to get home from school.

It is one of those scenes where you can feel the awkwardness through the screen. Mullins is being way too pushy, and you’re just waiting for someone to finally clock him one. 👊

The movie doesn't waste much time. It moves faster than some of the more artsy stuff from that era, like The White Pearl. It feels more like a Saturday afternoon snack than a heavy meal.

I noticed that the hats in this movie are massive. Like, how do they stay on when they are galloping? There is one shot where Tom is riding hard and his hat is flapping around so much I thought it was going to fly off and hit the cameraman. 🐎

The scenery is just a lot of dry hills and rocks. It looks hot. You can almost feel the grit in your own teeth while watching them kick up all that sand. It reminds me a bit of the vibe in Forbidden Paths, though maybe a bit less dramatic.

Gloria Grey plays Helen, and she does a lot of that wide-eyed silent movie acting. She’s fine, but she doesn't have a whole lot to do other than look worried and wait for the guys to stop fighting. It’s a bit of a bummer, but that’s just how these scripts were written back then.

The fight scenes are kind of messy in a way that feels real. They aren't choreographed like a modern Marvel movie. It’s just guys grabbing each other’s shirts and rolling around in the dirt. At one point, a chair gets knocked over and nobody picks it up for the rest of the scene. I like little details like that.

The Villain Problem

Lannister’s crew feels like a real bunch of jerks. They don't have some grand plan to take over the world. They just want to rob people and be mean. Sometimes that is all you need for a story to work.

I’ve seen a lot of these old westerns, like Buffalo e Bill, and usually the villains are just caricatures. Mullins feels a bit more dangerous because he is so unpredictable. He has this twitchy energy that makes you think he might actually do something crazy.

There is a moment where the camera lingers on a hand reaching for a holster. It stays there for a few seconds too long. It is supposed to be tense, but it almost becomes funny because you’re just waiting for the thumb to move. 🤣

The pacing gets a little weird in the middle. They spend a lot of time talking with those title cards. I found myself wishing they’d just get back on the horses. It’s not as snappy as Poker Faces, which has a bit more rhythm to it.

Is it a Masterpiece?

Probably not. But it’s got a soul. You can tell these guys were actually out there in the sun, getting dirty and tired. It doesn't feel like it was made on a soundstage in Burbank.

The ending is exactly what you expect it to be. No big twists. No subverting expectations. Just a solid resolution where the bad guys get what’s coming to them. Sometimes, that’s exactly what you want on a Tuesday night.

If you liked The Firing Line, you’ll probably find something to enjoy here. It’s got that same rough-around-the-edges quality. 🌵

One weird thing—there’s a dog in one scene that looks like it really didn't want to be there. It just walks across the back of the shot and looks directly at the camera. I wonder if they noticed that during the edit or if they just didn't care because film was expensive.

I think the movie is better when it stops trying to be a romance and just focuses on the chase. The horses are the real stars, honestly. They look powerful and fast, and the way they lean into the turns is pretty impressive to watch.

Anyway, it’s a decent little flick. It’s got more heart than The Idol of the Stage, even if it’s a bit simpler. It’s a nice reminder of when movies were just about a guy, a girl, and a very long ride through the desert.

Check it out if you find a good print. Just don't expect it to be anything other than a dusty Western. And honestly? That is perfectly fine by me. 🎞️