Bad Lands

The production certainly saves on make-up since there's not a woman in sight. It's all about a 10-man posse setting out after a bad man, but ending up mouse-trapped by Apaches in dry desert badlands. The movie plays much better if you haven't seen The Lost Patrol (1934) of which this is a virtual remake with a transposed setting. The premise is a good one as we get to know the posse members before they get picked off by the shadowy Apaches. Barrat is excellent as the stalwart sheriff, showing why he was such a fixture in movies of the 30's and 40's. Addison Richards shines too, as a tough guy, before becoming the more familiar silver- haired business executive of the 40's and 50's. And, of course, there's the lugubrious Andy Clyde, along with a rather shifty Noah Beery Jr. of Rockford Files fame.

Unfortunately, the wagon-load of tension coming from the premise is not equaled on screen since events unfold rather loosely, without the kind of tension that John Ford gets, for example, in The Lost Patrol. As a result, the movie is more interesting than riveting; at the same time, when pay-off's occur, there's not the involvement that makes for memorable viewing. And I think it a mistake for both this film and the 1934 one to show the attackers in the end. Instead, let them remain an unseen "force of nature" since that's how they're portrayed to that point. Nonetheless, this is a Western that certainly doesn't follow the formula horse operas of the day.

In passing—I don't know if it's the presence of Paul Hurst and Francis Ford or maybe the posse theme, but the movie reminds me in ways of the classic Ox-Bow Incident of 1943.

A topnotch ensemble cast and brilliant photography by Frank Redman make this little-known RKO western a sleeper that can only be compared to John Ford's Stagecoach, released the same year.

A posse pursues Apache Jack (played by John Payne) into the dessert, in a western variation of The Lost Patrol. The result is a nice variety of types played by veteran -- and up-and-coming -- character actors.

While Ford had begun using Monument Valley at this time, this movie was shot at Mount Whitney -- after seeing it in a hundred movies from Gunga Din, released the same year, on downward, you get so you can recognize the boulders. But while the prints of Ford's movie are pretty battered, this one is nearly pristine: the beautiful shadows producing shots like Hurrell portraits. See what a black and white movie is supposed to look like!

So this goes to the top of my list of sleepers. If you get a chance to see it, do so and let me know what you think.

I am so amazed by this Lew Landers's film, so terrific from such a prolific grade B director. I am still astonished. It looks like an Edward L Cahn from the thirties, his best period. It's a posse western, with a solid and riveting body count, solid characterization and solid story. Yes, I can't realize that Lew Landers made this, for RKO pictures. It is painful to realize that so many lost films from this era still remain in vaults, somewhere in warehouses, in a remote suburb...Movie passion saves so many surprises, and this one is the best example. I won't say it looks like a John Ford's movie but not so far from THE LOST PATROL, which was not exactly a western but not far either.

One would think that if a reviewer that knows the name and face of an actor in a film (when he is seen), then such reviewers would not go to great lengths in adding little tidbits about that actor, in their review, when that actor...John Payne...is not in the film. John Payne did not play "Apache Jack" in this film. That role was played by a one-and-done actor named Jack Payne. Perhaps those reviewers that pointed out the fabrication John Payne is in this film would go back and edit their reviews. But, the chances are very high that, rather than delete/correct their reviews, they will just mark this with a 'don't like'. Be my guest.

To say that "Bad Lands" is a remake of "The Lost Patrol" isn't exactly the case--it's more a case of a reworking of this earlier film. So many things have been changed (the location, the enemy, the discovery of silver, etc.) that it is worth seeing on its own. Oddly, however, I am not sure why I recorded it to watch later--but as long as I did, I decided to give it a try--mostly because I liked the no-name cast. Several of the actors (in particular, Robert Barrat) were very good supporting actors who never got a lot of fame--and it's nice to see him in a starring role. Plus, while it is a B-movie (with a low budget and relatively low production values), it has a more adult theme and style than the average B-western. As another reviewer put it, you won't find this theme in a Roy Rogers or Gene Autry film!

A posse tracks a man who is accused of rape into the desert. Eventually they find an oasis where they strike camp. Soon, a couple in the party discover a huge bein of silver and they imagine great wealth. However, when someone steals their horses and then they are attacked, it looks like their find is in vain (vein....get it? Oh, never mind...it's not that funny). Can any of them escape with their lives...let alone claim the silver?

While there are obvious similarities to "The Lost Patrol", one obvious improvement is in the characterizations. While John Ford was a genius director, in "The Lost Patrol" the characters (particularly the obviously insane Boris Karloff--who chewed scenery unmercifully in this film) were often far from subtle in their portrayals. While it's considered a minor classic, several reviewers (including myself) think it's aged poorly because of this. While lacking originality, at least "Bad Lands" does not have the cartoony characters the other film had. As a result, I actually preferred "Bad Lands"--as it offered more bang for the buck and excelled in its realistic portrayals--even if it is a tad slow.