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5.6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Under Texas Skies remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
You should probably watch this if you have a soft spot for early 1930s westerns where the sound is a bit crunchy. It is a great pick for a lazy Sunday afternoon when you do not want to think too hard. If you hate slow pacing or movies where people stand very still to talk into a hidden microphone, you will probably want to skip it.
So, the whole thing is about three cowboys who stumble into a mess. There is this orphan girl, Mary, and a bad guy who is basically twirling his mustache trying to steal her money. It is a story we have seen a thousand times, but there is something comfy about it here. 🤠
Bob Custer and Bill Cody are the main draws. They look like they spent more time at the tailor than on the range, but they can ride a horse pretty well. I noticed Custer has this habit of squinting at everything like he forgot his glasses at home. It makes him look very serious, even when he is just talking about lunch.
The movie is from that weird transition time when films were just starting to talk. You can tell because the actors sometimes stand in awkward clumps. They are clearly trying to stay near the mic hidden in a fake cactus or something. It is hilarious once you start looking for it.
There is a lot of riding. Like, a lot. Sometimes the camera just watches horses run for what feels like five minutes. I actually checked my phone during one of the chase scenes and when I looked back, they were still in the same field. 🐎
The villain, played by Tom London, is the best part. He is so clearly evil from the second he shows up on screen. He does not even try to hide it. I love how in these old movies, being a "crook" was a full-time personality trait.
One thing that caught my eye was the hats. Every cowboy has a hat that looks way too clean for the desert. They must have had a very busy laundry person on set. It reminds me a bit of the look in Blue Skies, though that is a totally different kind of movie.
There is a scene where a guy falls off a porch that looked like it actually hurt. It was not a stunt fall, just a clunky tumble. They kept it in anyway. I appreciate that kind of honesty in a low-budget flick. 🌵
The writing by George Arthur Durlam is... well, it is there. People say exactly what they are thinking at all times. "I am going to get that money!" says the bad guy. Thanks for the update, pal.
It is not a masterpiece like some other stuff from that year. It feels more like a rough draft of a movie. But it has a personal rhythm that I kind of dig. It is shorter than a modern movie, so it doesn't overstay its welcome too much.
If you have seen The Wasp or other b-westerns, you know the drill. It is about the vibes and the dust. The ending is exactly what you think it is, but that is why we watch these, right? 🎬
I did notice the film quality gets real grainy during the outdoor shots. It adds a bit of flavor. Like you are watching a memory of a movie someone told you about once.
Overall, it is a fun little relic. It is not going to change your life, but it is better than staring at a wall. Just don't expect it to be too polished. It is a bit of a mess, but a nice one.
IMDb 6.4
1916
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