A Holy Terror (1931)

Director:

Irving Cummings

Writers:

Ralph Block (adaptation)
Max Brand (novel)

Release Date:

19 July 1931 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

Eastern millionaire's son Bard finds his father murdered and flies west to see rancher Drew who may know something about it...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Cast

George O'Brien	...	Tony Bard aka Woodbury
Sally Eilers	...	Jerry Foster
Rita La Roy	...	Kitty Carroll
Humphrey Bogart	...	Steve Nash
James Kirkwood	...	William Drew
Stanley Fields	...	Butch Morgan
Robert Warwick	...	John Bard aka Thomas Woodbury
Richard Tucker	...	Tom Hedges
Earl Pingree	...	Jim Lawler, Ranch Manager

Also Known As:

Den ridande hämnaren (Sweden) [sv]
El temerario (Spain) [es]
Tod und Teufel (Austria) [de]
Varathron tou diavolou (Greece) [el]

Runtime:

53 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Fox Film Corporation

Soundtrack:

I AM THE WORDS (YOU ARE THE MUSIC)

Bogart shines in early Western

The only reason that most people will track down this minor Western is the presence of Humphrey Bogart in one of his earliest roles.

The Old West was never really looked right on Bogie and this performance, his first with Stetson and Six-gun, could be seen just as a dry run for his appearance as Whip McCord in the James Cagney vehicle 'The Oklahoma Kid'. In fact it was the first time Bogart ever appeared on the wrong side of the law and his depiction of a violent, shiftless man with no moral centre shows that he had this kind of role down pat five years before his breakthrough in 'The Petrified Forest'. He even manages to engage a little audience sympathy when constantly rejected by the virtuous heroine, a fact that also provides a little character motivation, unusual in a picture of this type. It almost goes without saying that he is really the only reason to watch.

Elsewhere George O'Brien tries hard to be handsome and charming in the lead role but is merely stiff and wooden, whilst Sally Eilers does a little better as the heroine. The story holds few surprises, and very little in the way of action or thrills, but the resolution is more original than expected. Technically, it's a little basic but some location work and the use of a few crane shots help a little.

If it weren't for Bogart this picture would probably be long forgotten and it really won't hold much appeal outside of his loyal fanbase.