The Wide Open Spaces

This short is one of four of the shorts produced by the Masquers Club and distributed by RKO in the early 1930s, now available on DVD from Encore Home Video.

This wild burlesque of westerns was directed by Arthur Rosson. It stars Ned Sparks in his usual frozen-faced performance, as the sheriff, Antonio Moreno as the Mexican bandit -- sort of -- and a host of silent comics and straight performers. It uses every cliché in the book to comic effect and throws in lots of gags while remaining a well-directed and photographed movie. If you love silent movies, slapstick comedy or playing 'spot the star' this one will be a real treat for you.