The Texan (1932): A dusty, no-frills Saturday afternoon

Is it worth your time?

If you have a soft spot for grainy, low-budget 1930s horse operas, sure. It’s a breezy watch if you just want to see some guys in hats yell at each other in the desert. But if you need actual character arcs or, you know, a plot that makes sense, you should probably skip it. It's strictly for the genre die-hards who enjoy the smell of old celluloid.

The whole thing feels like it was cobbled together over a long weekend. The story moves so fast that you barely register why the main character is on the run, but honestly, does it matter? He’s on the run, there’s a horse race, and people are acting suspicious. That's the whole sandwich.

The vibe

There is a distinct lack of polish here that I kind of love. You can practically hear the director shouting instructions just off-camera. Sometimes the horses look bored, and I don't blame them. The dialogue is snappy but feels like it was written on the back of a napkin while waiting for a train.

I noticed a specific scene where someone is supposed to be hiding behind a rock, but you can clearly see their boots sticking out. It’s that kind of movie. It doesn't care about the details, and honestly, why should it? It’s just trying to keep the momentum going.

Compared to the rest

It’s not trying to reach the heights of The Thirteenth Chair, which at least had some theatrical ambition. It’s closer in spirit to those quickie productions like Kill or Cure, where the goal was just to get the film in the can before the sun went down. It lacks the weird, haunting energy of The Cyclist, but it’s got its own charm.

The acting is… well, let's just say it’s very energetic. Everyone is playing their part like they’re in a silent film that suddenly realized it could have sound. It’s all very loud and very pointed.

• The horse racing scenes are mostly just guys galloping in a straight line.
• The villain has a mustache that clearly deserves its own billing.
• I’m pretty sure I saw the same extra in three different towns.
• The ending comes out of nowhere, like a sudden rainstorm in July.

I found myself zoning out during the exposition scenes, only to be jolted back by a random gunshot. It’s a very uneven experience, but it never pretends to be something it isn't. It doesn't have the heavy, artistic weight of Cavalleria rusticana, and that’s perfectly fine by me. Sometimes you just want to see a guy on a horse, right? 🤠

Ultimately, it’s a bit of a relic. It’s dusty, it’s slightly broken, and it probably shouldn't be scrutinized too closely. If you’re looking for a masterpiece, look elsewhere. If you’re looking for something that feels like a forgotten piece of cinematic junk mail, you’re in luck.