Code of the West

James Warren and John Laurenz play hero and sidekick in Code Of The West, purportedly based on a Zane Grey novel. Warren who sang a bit looked a whole lot like Gary Cooper, but with barely a fifth of Cooper's intense screen charisma. As for Laurenz I learned today that other actors actually played Chito Rafferty at RKO, a role I thought was the private preserve of Richard Martin. At least it should have been, it was practically sacrilegious to see someone else as the happy go lucky Chito.

Warren and Laurenz have a small spread and they're siding with banker Harry Harvey, Sr. against town boss Raymond Burr who wants to drive all the small ranchers because of some insider information about the railroad coming through. Not exactly an original western plot, but Burr who was just getting started in the first phase of his career as a screen character actor in mostly villainous roles.

Veteran western heavy Harry Woods plays Burr's handpicked marshal who kills for Burr and makes it legal. And Steve Brodie and Rita Lynn play a pair of card-sharks who are draining Harvey's son quite dry of the family fortune, also at Burr's behest.

In this less than memorable B western Raymond Burr is clearly the best in the field and the main reason to watch Code Of The West if you're interested.

Knowing the railroad is coming, Carter is after the rancher's land. Bob and Chito return just in time to save Banker Stockton and his money from Carter's men. When Stockton then lends the ranchers money, Carter has them burned out. Bob knows Carter is responsible and when Carter's henchman Saunders is recognized, Bob goes into action.

An amiable yet standard western fare featuring a crooked saloon owner - Raymond Burr - trying to forcibly attain ranchers land and not particular on how to get it, even if means murder. But the burr in his saddle is James Warren - a Gary Cooper lookalike - who does a good job. The plot is quite taut and busy and makes a pleasant 55 min watch.

If you've only seen the 1925 version of this movie, you ain't seen nothin' yet. This new version packs in more thrills, more action, and more heartwarming Old West excitement than the original. I mean, let's face it, William K. Howard (I) just didn't cut the mustard as director back in the day; William A. Berke clearly blows him completely out of the water. And James Warren (I) clearly steals the show with his thrilling and deeply moving portrayal of Bob Wade, vengeful cowboy champion.

So, if you want to see an adaptation of Zane Grey's classic story of western justice, don't go see that sorry excuse for a film they made back in 1925. The 1947 version kicks its sorry butt all over town.

RKO studio was certainly not specialized in westerns, but this one is rather fairly done, a bit above the average Poverty Row flicks, but not that much. William Berke has been more inspired in his career and I won't remember this one after tomorrow. It is not boring but the topic is anything but unpredictable. It is destined to hard boiled, die hard westerns fans and more precisely short grade B or Z stuff. So, if you have really nothing else to do, you can try it if you can. Or if you collect William Berke's films. The only reason for me to watch it is to see Raymond Burr in the villain character.