Terror of the Plains (1934) - A dusty, goofy B-Western with great hats

Look, if you aren't already into dusty, creaky 1930s B-westerns, Terror of the Plains is not going to convert you. It is way too cheap and silly for modern crowds, but if you love old-school cowboy nonsense where the good guys wear giant white hats, you might have a decent time. 🤠

The plot is basic as dirt. Tom Tyler plays Tom Lansing, a guy trying to clear his dad's name by sneaking into a ghost town where the bad guys are hiding out.

To get inside, Tom pretends to be an outlaw. His sidekick Banty—played by Nelson McDowell, who looks like a stiff breeze could knock him over—poses as the sheriff "chasing" him.

It is a pretty dumb plan, honestly. But hey, it works well enough to get them through the gate.

The ghost town itself doesn't really look like a town. It feels more like three wooden shacks and a lot of empty dirt.

There is this weird rule where "no one is allowed in or out." Yet, people seem to wander in and out whenever the plot needs them to.

Tom Tyler is the star. He was an Olympic lifter in real life, which explains why he stands so stiff, like he has a board taped to his spine.

He doesn't do a lot of "acting" with his face. Mostly he just squints at the camera and looks very tall.

If you want a western with actual dramatic weight, you are much better off looking up something like Whispering Canyon. This one is strictly for the cheap thrills.

The Kangaroo Court

The movie gets way more fun when Banty gets caught. The villain, Cramer, decides to hold a "kangaroo court" to make him talk.

This scene is hilarious. The extras sitting in the background look like they were literally pulled off the street and handed dirty hats.

One guy in the back keeps adjusting his collar like it is itching him. I couldn't stop watching him instead of the main actors.

The trial has absolutely no legal logic. They just yell at Banty and wave their guns around until someone decides it is time to fight.

Small Odd Details

• The sound quality is pretty rough. Sometimes a horse snorts and it sounds like a microphone dying. 🐴
• Tom's hat never falls off. Even during the messy fistfights, that thing is glued to his head.
• The music just stops randomly. Like the guy playing the piano fell asleep mid-scene.

It's short, though. The whole thing wraps up in under an hour, so even when it gets boring, it doesn't drag for too long.

It's not a masterpiece, but it's a fun little relic. Just don't expect too much from the acting.