|
Variety,
May 10,
1932
South of
the Rio Grande (1932)
Columbia production
and release featuring Buck Jones. Directed by Lambert Hillyer. Story
by Harold Shumate. Adaptation by Milton krima. Cast: Mona Maris,
Philo McCullough, Doria Hill, Geo. Lewis, Paul Fix, Chas. Requa,
James Durkin, Harry Semeles, Cas. Stevens. At Loew’s New York
one day, May 3, on double bill. Running time, 53 minutes.
 Buck
Jones does a Warner Baxter in this one and gets away with it nicely.
Good horse opera that zips along, despite too many time jumps; not
that these matter much. Photography, indoors and out, is excellent
and dialog fair in its kind but not always well sounded. Can single
wherever horse stuff can hold up alone, and will be a strong help
to a quiet companion on a double bill.
Jones personally
scores strongly as a Mexican rurale, not trying to do much with
the dialect thing, but keeping in character. He makes a nice figure
as the mounted policeman in charge of a detachment, and even tosses
in a bit disguised as an Indian runner.
Story opens
up with an action punch, then explains the brief premise and gets
into plot action without delay. Few dead moments in the telling
of the tale and a quick finish after the climax.
Mona Maris,
as an adventuress, throws Doril Hill, the nominal heroine, into
the background. She creates an excellent impression without trying
to overdo a part which could easily have been spoiled by too much
stress. George Lewis does nicely in a secondary character, and the
others hold up their respective ends.
In its class
picture rates nicely and should give general satisfaction.
copyright
© 1932 Variety
|
Looking for
a copy of the video "South of the Rio Grande"? Search
Amazon for VHS
| DVD,
or try Movies
Unlimited
|
|
Buck
Jones was the original Marlboro Man. He was a man’s
man, one of the most beloved stars in movie history
by both fans and colleagues alike. His unswerving commitment
to fair play made him a hero to kids, and he always
got his man astride his faithful horse, Silver. He was
crowned top Western money maker in 1936 and top-ten
star in 1937. This poster shows him as the tough cowboy
who fights for right and the Western way.