The Man from Nevada Review: Tom Tyler's Shoulders and Dusty Trails

If you have about fifty minutes and a soft spot for classic westerns where the hero looks like he could lift a house, then The Man from Nevada is worth your time. It is not exactly a masterpiece of storytelling, but it hits that specific spot if you want to see a guy in a big hat save a family from a jerk.

If you hate old movies where the plot is thinner than a piece of paper, you will probably find this pretty boring. There are no surprises here, just a lot of galloping.

Tom Tyler is the star and he has this intense way of staring at things. He doesn't need to do much acting because his chin does most of the work for him.

The story is basically just him showing up to help Natalie Joyce and her family. Some bad guy wants their homestead and will do anything to get it, which is the plot of about a billion of these movies.

I noticed that in one scene, the dust is so thick you can barely see the actors. It felt real, like they were actually out there in the heat getting grit in their teeth.

The villain, played by Al Ferguson, is almost too mean. He sneers so much I thought his face might get stuck that way permanently.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of The Man from Nevada (1929) through its definitive frames.

There is a part where a horse nearly trips during a chase and it made my heart jump. It is those little unscripted moments that make these old silents feel alive to me.

It is definitely more exciting than The Old Homestead which felt like it was moving in slow motion. At least here, people are actually moving and doing stuff.

The writing by Sally Winters is okay, but it feels like she just filled in the blanks of a Western template. You know exactly when the fight is coming and exactly when the girl will look grateful.

I liked it more than Fast and Fearless, mostly because the pacing feels a bit more natural. It doesn't try to be anything other than a Saturday afternoon distraction.

One reaction shot of a guy in the background lingers for way too long. He just stands there looking confused while the main action is happening somewhere else.

The way they filmed the riding scenes is actually pretty cool for 1929. You can tell they were really pushing those cameras through the dirt to get the shots.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of The Man from Nevada (1929) through its definitive frames.

Natalie Joyce is fine as the lead girl, but she doesn't have much to do besides look worried. She spends a lot of time wringing her hands while the men yell at each other.

It is weird how clean Tom Tyler’s outfit stays despite all the fights and horse riding. His shirt is whiter than my laundry will ever be.

There is a bit of a subplot with the family that feels a bit messy. It doesn't really go anywhere, but it pads out the runtime I guess.

If you liked It Happened Out West, you will find this familiar. It’s the same kind of rugged comfort food for people who miss the old days of cinema.

The ending fight is a bit clunky and you can see them missing their punches by a mile. But it’s charming in a way that modern movies with all their CGI just aren't.

It is a short movie, so even if you end up hating it, you haven't lost much of your life. 🌵

I’ll probably forget most of the details by tomorrow, but I enjoyed the ride while it lasted. Sometimes a simple hero-saves-the-day story is all you really need after a long day at work.