3 Bad Men

Three outlaws (played by Tom Santschi, J. Farrell MacDonald and Frank Campeau) take a young woman (Olive Borden) whose father was killed by horse thiefs under their wing and help her survive the machinations of a corrupt sheriff (Lou Tellegen). The storyline shows some similarities to that of 'Three Godfathers' which director John Ford filmed more than two decades later. However, I enjoyed '3 Bad Men' a lot more than Ford's younger film. It is more original, has a romantic sub plot and is funnier and less kitschy. It is moreover beautifully filmed and well-acted throughout. There are some weak points, though. I was not entirely convinced by the sudden transformation of the three hardened criminals into sometimes a bit sentimental protectors. And as some other reviewers have pointed out, the climax has been handled poorly. The three outlaws want to defend the entrance to a canyon against the sheriff and his men; as one of them says: A good man could hold it against an army. Sure, but the good man would need to take cover instead of standing quasi in the middle of the road... But these are minor issues. All in all, this is a beautiful early western that is well worth watching.

I like George O'Brien and when I saw the opportunity to own an early silent he made I took it and it was worth it, although, while he is the named star, he has a relatively small role in it and the movie really belongs to Tom Santschi who plays Bull, he is exceptional in his role. I'm not a huge fan of westerns, but, I enjoy all of John Ford's as he approaches his movies with a love of the West as it was being settled rather than the "Cowboys 'n' Injuns" take on things. This is the story of a girl who loses her father and is taken under the wing of the three bad men in the title, not that they are really all bad, just a bit naughty really. The real bad guy is the Sheriff who is really creepy. I don't like to give long detailed synopsises of movies, if I think a movie is good I just like to let people know that it is worth seeing and this one is. The Land rush sequence is particularly impressive and there is some very good humour, the inter titling is very well thought out. The acting is very good by all. The only downer is the quality of the available print, mine was a video from the Killiam collection and could do with a little TLC to restore it to it's former glory. This movie has absolutely everything and I cannot recommend it highly enough. It's about time more money was put into the restoration and cleaning up of the silents that were not lost or destroyed, it's a crying shame when you see movies like this and many others that end up forgotten and unloved through neglect.

Not one of Ford's better oaters, "3 Bad Men" is nonetheless a modest and satisfactory silent Western, with comic touches and serviceable storyline of three outlaws rescuing a young abandoned girl after her mother is killed in the wild west. While the able players (George O'Brien, Tom Santischi, Olive Borden, Priscilla Bonner, J. Farrel MacDonald) are in good form, the film is chiefly notable for its superlatively evocative photography, the shots of gorgeous exteriors and the typically Fordian long shot of epic landscape & riders on the horizon. It is very poetic and well-made.

Look for that exciting sequence of the Dakota land rush.

3 Bad Men (as the title card shows it) is an outstanding example of the silent western and one of John Ford's earliest triumphs. The photography is stunning and the land rush sequences truly impressive, and while the story of redemption and sacrifice is predictable it is nonetheless still moving.

This is a great find - some excellent performances here (Olive Borden as the plucky little heroine, Priscilla Bonner as poor little misguided Millie, Lou Tellegen as the corrupt sheriff in rather silly hat) and an excellent story which has a lot to say and keeps you watching. If only someone out there would restore it to its former glory ... wouldn't it look wonderful?