Texas Buddies: Old School Desert Scuffles

Is this thing worth your time?

If you like your Westerns short, scrappy, and smelling slightly of celluloid dust, then sure. It's probably not for the folks who need a three-hour epic with a huge budget. If you find yourself missing the days of The Desert Rider, you'll be right at home here.

Everything about Texas Buddies feels like it was filmed in an afternoon. The pacing is almost dizzying because it doesn't bother with anything resembling a slow burn.

The Setup

The whole mail plane heist happens so fast you barely have time to blink. One minute it's flying, the next it's a pile of junk in the sand. It’s funny how planes in these old movies are basically just cardboard targets for the bad guys.

Bob Steele is doing his usual thing, and honestly, you can tell he's just trying to keep the scene moving. There’s a moment where he hops into the cockpit, and the way he handles the controls makes me think he’s never actually seen a plane before. It's charming in a 'we’re making this up as we go' kind of way. 🤠

• The horses look like they’re having a better time than the actors.
• The desert is mostly just a backdrop that looks exactly like every other set from that era.
• 'Gabby' Hayes shows up and steals every second he's on screen, as per usual.

I couldn't help but think about how these movies were churned out like sausages. It lacks the polish of Poor But Honest, but it has this weird, frantic energy. It’s like the editor was trying to finish before the sun went down.

Bits and Bobs

There's a scene near the middle where they argue over the payroll, and the dialogue is so snappy it feels like they’re reading off a list of bullet points. It’s not deep, it’s not profound, it’s just guys shouting in the dirt. Sometimes that's enough.

The pilot getting shot? That happens in the blink of an eye. No mourning, no drama, just 'welp, I guess I'm the pilot now.' It’s brutal and hilarious if you don't take it too seriously. ✈️

If you’re looking for a lesson on morality, look elsewhere. This is just a group of people chasing a bag of money across a dry landscape. It reminds me of the pacing in Save the Ship where things just *happen* because the script says so.

Don’t go looking for high-def clarity here. The scratches on the print are basically part of the experience. It makes the whole thing feel like a dusty postcard from a century ago. You take it or leave it, but at least it isn't boring.