Lawless Land

Lawless Land casts Johnny Mack Brown as a Texas Ranger who upon arriving in town hears that the sheriff has been killed only minutes earlier. As it was the sheriff Brown had come to see, he decides to stay awhile and see what's going on.

From the gitgo it's rather obvious that the town's leading citizen is responsible not only for the sheriff's murder, but a couple of others besides. Ted Adams is a villain in the grand tradition of Snidely Whiplash. If he had only let his mustache grow out into a handlebar he could have twirled them, let out a cackling laugh, and everyone would know.

Everyone has to know because this film was meant for the juvenile trade so you could not be subtle. When anything is subtle in one of these B picture horse operas, it's a rarity indeed.

All this on Adams part mind you because also in the grand tradition of those Victorian/Edwardian melodramas, Adams has designs on Little Nell in the form of Louise Stanley.

Both Brown and Adams can't get any good help, Brown enlists storekeeper Horace Murphy in his service and Adams chief henchman is Julian Rivero who can't do anything right. Rivero bungles one job after another for Adams usually in a way that provokes a lot of laughs.

I found Lawless Land to be thoroughly enjoyable taken on its own terms. I think it will still be viewing pleasure.