Land of the Open Range

Deputy Dave Walton (Tim Holt) does most of the heavy lifting of law enforcement in this original little western. The film opens with the funeral of Luke Archer, apparently a career criminal who had the good fortune to die in bed. When Luke's will is read by his attorney Gil Carse - who is apparently a bad guy as well - it specifies that his large ranch is to be parceled up and auctioned off in "land rush" style to anybody who has served at least two years in a federal or state criminal institution. Archer did this not because he was some great humanitarian. Instead he did it as revenge on the folks of the town by filling the land around it with former criminals.

Well word gets out and soon ex-cons are camped out and waiting for the date of the land rush. Some are well behaved, but some are stealing chickens for dinner, and still others are getting drunk and shooting up the town.

Sure, this one devolves into the finishing chase on horseback and shootout, but it also does some interesting things along the way. For instance, the deputy meets his love interest when she starts clubbing him with her parasol before the two have spoken a word to one another. Carse's men are seen surveying a portion of Archer's land. prior to the date of the rush Why? Then there is an interesting pseudo reformed pick pocket that figures heavily into the plot in a humorous fashion. And finally there is a black cat and what appears to be an office that is haunted by the spirit of Luke Archer. What goes on here? Watch and find out. It sure is not dull or predictable. And for a film made in 1942 it is rare in that it has not a hint of those nasty Nazis!

Note that the land rush scenes were largely lifted from RKO's only film to win a Best Picture Oscar - 1931's "Cimarron". It won mainly because it restored outdoor motion to film, but by 1942 such scenes were commonplace .