Drum Taps

Ken Maynard nearly always provided an entertaining Western, and the oddly named "Drum Taps" is no exception.

That title is a reference to the one time a message is delivered via, yes, drum taps. Other times, messages are sent via heliograph.

Coded messaging figures because a troop of Boy Scouts have come to visit. Played by a real-life Los Angeles troop, they are led by the real-life brother of Ken Maynard, Kermit, who doesn't even get screen credit!

Leading lady is Dorothy Dix, an adorable pixie of a pretty good actress, but who quit acting early, with only 21 credits. (She was sister to actor Tex Harding.)

Strangely, the chief bad guy is played by Hooper Atchley, and he too doesn't get screen credit, although he was a fine actor, always in control and fully involved in his role. He died awfully young, but still shows 215 credits here at IMDb.

Other bad guys include Al Bridge, Charles Stevens, and Slim Whitaker, and some others of the best cowboys and stunt men in Hollywood.

"Drum Taps" never gets really exciting, although there is never a really dull moment. There's always something going on, but somehow, either because of script, by Alan James and J.P. McGowan, or McGowan's directing, it seems rather slow.

Still, it's very worth watching, and there is a good copy at YouTube.

I have no idea why this film is called "Drum Taps". All I know is that it's pretty much a formula picture starring Ken Maynard. It begins with some henchmen trying to force Grandpa off his land. Fortunately, his granddaughter (Dorothy Dix) escapes and gets help. When Ken Maynard shows up to save the day, he takes on two men with absolutely NO help from Grandpa--who just stands there when our hero is fighting to save him! Thanks, Gramps! By the way, late in the film an identical situation arises and Dix just stands there when Maynard comes to save her! I HATE this cliché, as only total idiots would just stand there--one of them SHOULD have bonked one of the baddies on the head with something to help the hero! The film all boils down to the same plot you'll find in 1834234 other westerns--a greedy bad guy who wants everyone's land AND wants to rustle everyone's cattle. No major surprises here EXCEPT the inexplicable addition of a troop of Boy Scouts who help Ken in his task of defeating the forces of evil as well as one of the most ridiculously complicated murders in film history! Not a terrible film--just not a very good one, either.

By the way, if you get a chance, read the IMDb biography on Ken Maynard. I honestly cannot recall a bio as negative as this one and it definitely holds no punches!