The Arizona Cyclone (1928) Review: Identity Theft and a Heroic Monkey

If you are looking for a deep silent movie that is gonna change your life, this probably isn't it. 🤠 But if you want to see a guy fight his own evil twin while a monkey saves the day, then The Arizona Cyclone is basically the perfect Sunday afternoon distraction.

Honestly, it is a bit of a dusty relic. It has that weird charm that only 1920s B-Westerns can really pull off when they aren't trying too hard.

Fred Humes plays Larry Day, who is your standard "good guy" foreman. He is in love with the boss's daughter, Kathleen, which is the most original plot point ever written, obviously. 🙄

But then there is Tom Day, also known as the "Night Hawk." He looks exactly like Larry because, well, it is the same actor playing both parts.

This was likely a big deal for the special effects people in 1928. For us today, it mostly just means Fred Humes has to look extra grumpy when he is being the bad guy.

The whole thing kicks off because of some cattle deal gone wrong. Mel Craven is the villain here, and he looks exactly like a guy who would spend his weekends plotting to ruin people's lives.

He hires the Night Hawk to replace Larry. It is a classic switcheroo that depends entirely on everyone at the ranch being slightly unobservant.

They kidnap Larry and stick him in a room. Tom goes back to the ranch to act like a jerk and steal the money while pretending to be his cousin.

The funny thing is how nobody notices the difference immediately. Your boyfriend comes back and suddenly has a different personality, but you just figure he's having a bad Tuesday? 🤨

The horse, Lightning, is actually pretty good. Sometimes the animals in these old movies act with more focus than the humans do.

I was watching this thinking it was gonna be a total bore until the monkey showed up. One of the cowboys has a pet monkey, and it is never really explained why.

It doesn't need to be explained, though. In a movie about a complex identity theft plot, the hero’s fate eventually rests on a primate, and I find that hilarious.

The pacing is... well, it is a silent movie from the late twenties. Some shots of people riding horses across the desert go on for a long time.

You could probably go make a sandwich during some of the chase scenes and not miss a single plot point. It reminds me a bit of the slow-burn energy in The Gallopin' Gaucho, but maybe with less fancy footwork.

There is a scene where Tom is trying to be "Larry" and it is so obvious he is a villain. He has this shifty look in his eyes that should have been a dead giveaway to everyone involved.

Margaret Gray plays Kathleen, and she spends most of her time looking concerned. She is very good at looking concerned, I guess.

The way the film handles the "double" scenes is actually okay for the time. You can see the split-screen line if you squint really hard at the monitor, but for 1928, it is solid work.

I have seen better westerns from this era, like maybe Bucking Broadway. But that one doesn't have a monkey that ruins a criminal conspiracy.

The ending is exactly what you expect it to be. There is a fight, a chase, and the good guy gets the girl back.

I actually liked the dust. There is so much dust in every single scene.

It makes you realize how uncomfortable it must have been to film these things in the desert. Everyone is wearing heavy wool and hats in the Arizona sun. ☀️

The title The Arizona Cyclone sounds way more intense than the movie actually is. It is more like "The Arizona Light Breeze with a Primate Sidekick."

If you are into the history of cinema or just like seeing how they did "twin" effects back then, it is a fun 50 minutes. It feels a bit like Freckles in terms of that simple, honest 1928 vibe.

I did notice one extra in the background who looked like he was completely lost. He just stares at the camera for a second before walking behind a barn and disappearing.

It is those little mistakes that make these old films feel more real to me. They weren't trying to be perfect or "cinematic masterpieces" for the ages.

They were just trying to get a movie out to the theaters by Friday. Honestly, it is more entertaining than some of the big-budget stuff we get now.

Anyway, watch it for the monkey. Ignore the cattle drama. 🐒