Arizona

This film begins with a young West Point cadet by the name of "Bob Denton" (John Wayne) abruptly ending his two-year relationship with his girlfriend "Evelyn Palmer" (Laura La Plante) just before graduation. For her part, Evelyn is devastated by this news as she had anticipated their getting married in the near future. So, in order to get back at him, she decides to date Bob's superior officer and mentor "Colonel Frank Bonham" (Forrest Stanley). One thing leads to another, and they are soon married with Frank getting assigned to an army post in Arizona. However, since Bob was on training maneuvers at the time, he is completely unaware of their relationship. To that effect, he is taken completely by surprise when he is ordered to report for his first assignment to Arizona--with Colonel Bonham as his new commanding officer. Further complicating the situation is the fact that Evelyn's younger sister "Bonita Palmer" (June Clyde) is living with them and, much to the consternation of Evelyn, falls madly in love with Bob. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this film was initially released under the title of "Men Are Like That" but, since it was a remake of an earlier silent picture from 1913, renamed "Arizona" to reflect that fact. For what it's worth, it was also released under the title of "The Virtuous Wife" in the United Kingdom. Be that as it may, although this movie is quite dated, I enjoyed it for the most part and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

An American drama; A story about an American army lieutenant whose former girlfriend marries his commanding officer out of revenge causing complications down the line. This pre-code melodrama is a stagebound production about false accusation and romantic shenanigans. It contrives a plot about a mix-up but it contains holes at almost every turn, never really generating any suspense. The main characters are written as scoundrels without many redeeming features and it is too silly to be moving. June Clyde is likeable as the excitable younger sister full of energy and life. John Wayne wilts despite his alacrity.

Early in his career, when the Duke worked at Columbia Pictures, Harry Cohn tried him out in this romantic vehicle, for which he received second billing to Laura LaPlante, who plays a scorned Evelyn eventually getting her chance to make Bob pay for calling it quits. This mostly forgotten flick, not even listed in many film catalogs under Wayne's name, is best left that way, forgotten and unlisted. Still, as one of the first films that gave him significant billing, he holds his own against his equally forgettable cast mates. As a romantic actor, he fails to impress in his clinches with either of his lovers. It's obvious he had a long way to go to become a good actor although he never turned into a great one like the Gables and Stewarts and others then starting their careers. It's still of interest to watch the old football game and the cavalry drills in this picture, so it's not without its merits. Just don't expect much and you won't be disappointed. I'd recommend if for fans of the Duke, just to see how green he was back then. And the girls are pretty and the guys look nice in uniforms, so there are worse ways to pass an hour or so. Dale Roloff

This could have been rather more than this simple melodrama, had Messrs. Seitz and Riskin been a bit more adventurous with their adaptation of quite a fun play. It centres around "Evelyn" (Laura la Plante) who is jilted by her beau, and so, reluctantly, marries "Col. Bonham" (Forrest Stanley) on the rebound. They relocate to his command in Arizona where they are soon joined by the colonel's handsome, football-star protegé "Bob Denton" (John Wayne) who, guess what - turns out to be the one who jilted her, and who now starts to take a bit of a shine to her younger sister "Bonnie" (June Clyde). Well, "Evelyn" is having none of this and sets up an elaborate plan to save her sister and disgrace poor old "Bob". This story is a bit thin, as are the performances - but it isn't hard to see why the dashing Wayne was drawing in the crowds - wooden as he is, he has charisma here in spades and plays well against the vengeful character and much more accomplished actress that is La Plante. This is really little more than a film for Wayne fans to tick off a list of his early works - not terrible, but not really anything much at all...

Certainly not one of John Wayne's worst films, as one reviewer proclaims, but among his worst performances. After his initial starring role in "The Big Trail" in 1930, Wayne found himself at Columbia and turned in this wooden acting role in "Arizona" along with other pictures and was eventually fired by Harry Cohn. Soon Wayne found himself on poverty row, starring in "His Private Secretary" for Showmen's Pictures in 1933 and a series of westerns for Lone Star Productions released by Monogram Pictures in 1934. His climb back to being a top Hollywood star would take a few years. This film is a cultural significance since it has been released on a DVD set entitled "Columbia Pictures - Pre-Code Collection" along with four other films made in 1931-1932, starring Barbara Stanwyck, Jean Harlow, and Carole Lombard.