Myron Clemons
A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.
JohnHowardReid
Lane Chandler (Keene Wallace), Adele Lacy (Judith Flagg), Harry Todd (Sheriff Joe Flagg), Loie Bridge (Mrs Flagg), Yakima Canutt (Buck Jackson), Al Bridge (Cantrell), Bob Roper (Brute Watson), Harry Semels (Pete), Hank Bell (Hank), Olin Francis (bartender), Silver Tip Baker (barfly), Jack Kirk (singing cowboy), Jack Rockwell (ranch hand), Fred Burns (stage driver), Frank Ellis (stage guard), Lafe McKee (townsman on bench), Wally West (cowhand), Bud Pope (henchman), Al Taylor (deputy), and "Raven" (the hero's horse).Director: ARMAND SCHAEFER. Scenario: Wallace MacDonald. Adapted by Oliver Drake from a short story, "Shootin' Square", by Alan Ludwig. Photography: William Nobles. Film editor: Ethel Davey. Stunts: Yakima Canutt, Wally West. Producer: Willis Kent. Not copyrighted by Willis Kent Productions. U.S. release through Capitol Film Exchange (and other independent state's right distributors): 12 September 1932. 60 minutes. Alternative title: ROARING RIDER.SYNOPSIS: An "outlaw" (he is not really a badman of course) returns to his home town to claim his rightful inheritance. COMMENT: One of the more interesting of the six Lane Chandler oaters Willis Kent produced in 1932. (The others: Battling Buckaroo, Guns for Hire, Lawless Valley, The Reckless Rider, Texas Tornado). Although it lifts at least two action sequences from Oliver Drake's otherwise rather pedestrianly directed "Texas Tornado", it benefits from a superior script and the often inventive handling of Armand Schaefer who is not afraid to move his camera (if sometimes rather shakily) to jazz up the story. The players also have a chance to get their histrionic teeth into characters that are a bit more rounded than the usual offerings. Even Chandler seems more at home in this picture, the heroine is pretty (if rather shrill of voice), Mr Todd is delightfully bad- tempered, Mr Bridge plays the heavy with his usual dexterity, whilst his henchman Yakima Canutt shows unexpected mettle in a splendid scene in which he is forced to join in the bunkhouse sing-song!
