'Neath the Arizona Skies (1934)

Overrated

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

A Lone Star Western. Copyright 15 January 1935 by Monogram Pictures Corp. No New York opening. U.S. release: 5 December 1934. U.K. release through Pathé : 12 August 1935. 6 reels. 52 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Wayne is the guardian of a little Indian girl, Shirley Jane Rickert, who is entitled to a royalty payment of $50,000 for an oil lease. Before she can get the money, however, Wayne needs to get a paper signed by her natural father, Earl Dwire. A gang of kidnappers led by Yakima Canutt also want the money. Matters are further complicated when a couple of bank robbers, Rockwell and Wilsey, cross paths.COMMENT: This would be a dull Lone Star were it not for the surprise appearance of George Hayes, playing pretty close to his "Gabby" character. Although prominently featured in re-issue posters and advertising, Hayes isn't even mentioned in the credits. Maybe his part was added as an afterthought. However it says much for the quality for the rest of the movie, that Hayes is the highlight of interest. True the pace is fairly rapid and the plot has more twists than a snake on an ants' nest, but the action spots - and admittedly there are many - are poorly and unexcitingly staged. Mr. Fraser is not one of the better directors in this field. Not only are the action scenes lacking in vigor and punch, but the level of acting is far more amateurish than usual. Even Canutt has little color, whilst Wayne himself lacks his usual assurance and sparkle. The heroine is somewhat dowdily costumed, though she has an attractive face, and as for Miss Rickert/Ricketts, it comes as no surprise to learn that she was a former member of the Our Gang series. She's one of those over-confident, over-forward but not particularly charismatic Hollywood kids which the studios seem to turn out by the cart-load. Still Buffalo Bill, Jr. was mean and shifty enough as the villain, and Earl Dwire had one or two good moments as the never-do-well turned playful dad. (No-one could complain that Dwire lacked variety in his various Lone Star roles). And maybe I imagined it, but "Sheriff" Jack Rockwell seemed uncomfortable in his unaccustomed role as a heavy.As for the Arizona skies, we're still waiting. The locations are singularly uninteresting, even by Poverty Row's Hollywood Hills standards. Yes, Yakima Canutt does do a couple of stunts, including two leaps from a cliff, one on horseback, doubling himself; and one solo, doubling Wayne. Thanks to Fraser's poor direction, both fail to impress.

. . . of Western Do-Gooders providing Modern Medicine enabling population explosions in Developing Countries, but then failing to follow up by supplying the food and peace-keeping forces necessary to keep these unprecedented Hordes of Humanity Safe and Happy. 'NEATH THE ARIZONA SKIES tackles a similar Moral Dilemma. Is it Ethical to provide Native Americans with staggering sums of mineral royalties, endangering Traditional Life Styles and Culture? Half-indigenous "Nina" stands to be awarded $50,000 as SKIES begins (about twice Donald Trump's current net worth, adjusted for inflation). Around eight years old, this causes Nina nothing but trouble, as she's kidnapped or shot around again and again by typical Red State Greedheads. Anyone who currently lives near an "Indian Reservation" knows that many are awash in European-mode money, thanks to mineral royalties or gambling casinos foisted upon them by Government Do-Gooders. Most of these so-called "Sovereign Nations" are consequently roiled up in a perpetual state of Civil War, as the Illusion of Western Wealth causes continual factional in-fighting, often resulting in the one-sixteenths or Grandfathered-in White Tribal Members "Disenrolling" wholes and half-bloods from their Tribes. A close viewing of SKIES suggests that these hundreds of tribes should be combined into one, and given a region such as the Alleghenies, Great Lakes, or Southwest for an ACTUAL independent Homeland on which to revive their Traditional Culture. Then all Current or Past Enrollees could decide whether to be Native OR American (including U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren).

Average Wayne-Lone Star matinée special. Chris (Wayne) is trying to secure oil money for fatherless Indian girl Nina (Rickert). Sam Black (a good name for bad guy Canutt) and his gang are trying to kidnap the girl and hijack the money. Nothing exceptional here, other than some good outdoor action and a clever Canutt-devised stunt with rope and a tree. For fans of Gabby Hayes, his likably grouchy character is almost complete. For me, the highlight was seeing Lone Star regular Earl Dwire actually play a good guy (Tom) for once. With his considerably less than handsome features, he fits the bad guy stereotype. So his role here amounts to a welcome departure showing that you don't have to look like a Wayne to play a good guy. Fairly scenic locations, not the Sierras unfortunately, but not the treeless LA scrublands either. Strikingly pretty Sheila Terry as Clara doesn't have much to do other than ride horseback in a dress, no less, and with the boys. Note the plunge off the cliff into the water. This was a popular stunt of the time and a fittingly dramatic end to a chase sequence. I can't tell whether this one is a stock shot from another film or not. But, never mind, since it's a grabber anyway. All in all, an entertaining 50 minutes, but nothing special.

To be sure, it's easy to look at all the flaws in construction in the 'Lone Star' westerns (or any other films), but some are saved by editing and lots of action. This one is.It has an interesting premise and plot twists. Chris Morell (John Wayne), while on the trail of little 'half-breed' Nina's father, a 'squaw man' (that is, someone married to a full blooded Indian woman) who is described as 'a good for nothing white man,' is being chased by two groups of villains, seeking to kidnap the girl for her inheritance from oil wells on Indian land.Basically a chase movie, most of it is on horseback, with lots of chases, fights, escapes and shoot outs. It's 52 minutes that really build and move along, with crisp editing towards the end. Yakima Canutt (The Great Yak) gets to play the head villain, Sam Black, and he's bad. Earl Dwire gets to be a repentant Dad who plays with his newly found daughter. Gabby Hayes is uncredited, but his delivery and presence sparkle in his brief appearances.What more do you want? Character development? It's not there. The sub plot with Clara's brother, while promising, as noted by others, goes nowhere. Chris's "I've got an idea..." solution while being trapped in a cabin near the end doesn't really seem like much of an idea, and the final battle with Sam Black is fought in the water, and not up to the denouement we expect in Chris's defeating such a bad villain. But so what? We get well edited fast action and lots of it.Notes: This is a remake of the previous year's 'Circle Canyon,'(1933) and is probably much better. Shirley Jean Rickert can be seen in 'Fly My Kite' (1931) and other Little Rascal shorts; as an adult she had a 'career' as an uncredited dancer in films like 'Singin' in the Rain' (1951). And we get to see Sheila Terry in another undistinguished role in Lone Star's 'The Lawless Frontier' (1934).