The Light of Western Stars

An entertaining movie just over the hump of the 30's shoot'em up westerns, taking on social values as alcoholism, race prejudice, and the basic frailties of man. Most westerns of this time were usually the White hat vs the Black hat and were rather simple. Victor Jory's character is basicly a good guy but had been a hired gun in Mexico and turned into a common drunk due to his conscience. He is saved by Jo Ann Sayers who won't give up on him and leads him on the path of righteousness. You can see from Victor Jory's performance (looks and mannerism's), although good, why he eventually took on the parts of villains. He made a better villain than a hero by just being himself, he had a natural sinister manner which projected on the screen.

Superb actors with an excellent script are skillfully directed by Lesley Selander and beautifully photographed by that great veteran Russell Harlan.

Don't let the inventiveness and beauty of the camera work and directing distract you from the skill and beauty of, for example, actress Jo Ann Sayers, of whom I know nothing else than that she was marvelous in this role. She expresses so much with her eyes and face and doesn't need words.

Victor Jory is probably better known as a villain, but in "The Light of Western Stars" he is a great hero cowboy, giving one of his best performancess of my knowledge.

Noah Beery, Jr., is somewhat of a disappointment in his role as a "Mexican" sidekick: His accent is less than impressive, though as usual Mr. Beery himself is very likable and, other than the accent, his acting is more than adequate.

Russell Hayden, on the other hand, gives one of his very best performances. I have had trouble before with his enunciation; he often sounded as if he had badly fitting dentures.

Here, he is clear and solid, and his facial expressions and body movement are those of a real pro.

There are other great old veterans giving great performances in this involved story of the not-so-old West, a clever and inventive Zane Grey story, crafted into an excellent script by Norman Houston.

I highly recommend "The Light of Western Stars," which you can see at YouTube.

Victor Jory as a top-billed leading man! I just had to see this role reversal after years of seeing his commandingly villainous roles. Actually it's a shrewd bit of casting since Jory's Gene Stewart is a flawed hero, to say the least. He picks fights, makes stupid bets, and gets sodden drunk; that is, when he's not running guns to Mexico. In short, he's no Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy, or even Lash LaRue. So will Stewart ever reform and deserve top-billing hero in an oater. Well, maybe if snobby easterner Majesty Hammond (Sayers) will get off her high horse and give him a job at her new ranch. Then maybe he'll have a chance. (Actually that "high horse" is the renowned Trigger of the popular Roy Rogers series.) But first Stewart will have to deal with baddie Hayworth (Ankrum) who also runs guns Mexico way. Good thing Stewart's got Mexican sidekick Poco (Beery Jr.) to fill-in the cracks.

Jory's adept in his conflicted role, but I'm especially impressed with the stately Sayers' range of subtle emotions. Too bad her career ended rather abruptly. The narrative's first part is mainly in town, but once the scenery moves out to the familiar Alabama Hills, things really pick up. Director Selander makes good use of the rock monoliths, while that impressive series of dynamite explosions looks real and not processed. After all, this is Paramount Studio, so they've got the bucks to back up even a 60-minute programmer like this. So, all in all, catch this rather unusual oater if you can.

About the only thing resembling Zane Grey's wonderful novel is the names of the lead characters. This thing's plot was never clear--just a choppy mess. Don't waste your time.

Victor Jory gets drunk and bets he can marry the next girl who comes into town. He finds pretty Jo Ann Sayers, who is the sister of his good friend, Russell Hayden, slugs the sheriff and high-tails it to Mexico, where he becomes a pistolero in the fifth -- and so far, the latest -- filmed version of the Zane Grey western.

Jory is great in it, big and bluff and talkative, or drunk and self-pitying as the scene calls for. His career was on the downslide and he would take leading roles in westerns and the occasional supporting role in other B productions, but he was recognized as a fine actor and was in demand for small roles through his death in 1982. Miss Sayers is not very good, and her career went to pieces soon afterwards. Her three-year credited career ended with the picture after this one, although she had an uncredited bit a dozen years later. The cast is ably eked out with J. Farrel MacDonald, a brief appearance by Alan Ladd at the beginning and Noah Beery Jr. in a sizable role as a Mexican (!).

It's one of 20 Zane Grey westerns filmed by by Paramount from 1930-1940. It is well directed by Lesley Selander and produced by Harry "Pop" Sherman, Paramount's go-to producer for western programmers. He is probably best remembered for producing the Hopalong Cassidy movies, before William Boyd bought the rights and took the franchise independent.