Bad Bascomb (1946)

What a beautiful movie!

In truth, any opportunity to see the film on the big screen is welcome.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

I remember catching this little gem a while back on TCM very early in the morning. I've always enjoyed Berry, the proverbial "they don't make them like this anymore" kinda guy. It was a while later when I happened upon an article written about "The Most Undeserved Oscars Ever". It was based on the writers point of view, I guess, with some strong arguments to back up Their points. The most puzzling, was the Best Actor Oscar handed out to John Wayne for "True Grit". This was the writers point, and it's a GOOD one. The point is, John Wayne did an almost dead-on impression of Wallace Berry's "Bad Bascomb" through the entire movie, and got an Oscar for it....? I didn't give it a second thought until a recent viewing of "True Grit", and, well, It's pretty apparent. As to whether Mr. Wayne deserved the Oscar or not, I think it's amusing that the only time He didn't act like "John Wayne", he got an Oscar, and for doing an impression of Wallace Berry! Check it out for yourself, and you'll see it, too. I love both movies, but "True Grit" will never look the same to me again.

Wallace Beery plays Bad Bascomb, the cuddliest outlaw in the West! He's a bank robber, a cattle rustler, and he's (oh my!) left-handed! But once he joins up with a wagon-caravan of Mormons--in order to escape the law--B.B. becomes humanized, a scoundrel with a squishy heart. This is a cute western with a warm theme, the best sequences involving Beery with teary Margaret O'Brien (they meet while he's stealing chicken). Marjorie Main is always fun to have around playing Bascomb's Mormon-intended. Strictly a formula film, sentimental and "nice", although some of the action scenes are sloppily-directed and there's some curious overdubbing (when O'Brien says to Beery, "Are you gonna marry her?", Beery answers, "You really are ill!" but his lips say "sick"). Still, quite enjoyable and with some very funny lines. *** from ****

Sure, this is just another horse opera, but who cares?Wallace Beery is more entertaining just being Wallace Beery than most actors are with sparkling dialogue and auteur direction.Magararet O'Brien: Shirley Temple she ain't! When people talk about child stars, they usually mention Jackie Coogan and Jackie Cooper; Mickey Rooney and Dickie Moore; Baby Peggy and Hailie Mills. Give me Margaret O'Brien any day.Marjorie Main could lick her weight in Marie Dresslers, any day.Pure entertainment!

I found this a very interesting movie, and enjoyed Beery in his role. I was just surprised with the ending, I was expecting the Federal Officer to turn his back and let Beery return to the Wagon Train, but it ended with him riding off with the Officer. Not a traditional ending. Hope I didn't blow the ending for anyone.