Avaliação por lugonian

PARADISE CANYON (Monogram Pictures, 1935) directed by Carl R. Pierson, stars John Wayne in his 15th western for Lone Star Productions. Being one of his last for the company before making his move to Republic Pictures, this edition results for some changes from its previous efforts. Other than not having George Hayes, later known as "Gabby," in support, Carl Pierson, credited film editor through much of the series, now assumes his position in the director's chair. Still labeled a Paul Malvern Production, it's still quickly produced with high action as priority, though production values are still limited as are underscoring used solely for opening and closing credits. Having John Wayne as its leading star is the sole reason these Lone Star quickies to have commercial value today, seeing the "Duke" working his way from cowboy matinee to top major status performer that began with the John Ford classic STAGECOACH (United Artists, 1939).

With original story by Lindsley Parsons, the plot introduces John Wyatt (John Wayne) coming to a western town entering the office of Colonel Peters (Henry Hall) introducing himself as an undercover government agent assigned to round up a gang of counterfeiters. Acquiring much needed information to help with his assignment tracing counterfeiters currently on the Mexican border line and suspecting the money being passed from a medicine show. The only way to gather enough evidence to arrest the culprits is for John to join the medicine show himself. Tracking down the labeled wagon of "Dr. Carter's Great Medicine Show" being chased from a posse from the previous town, to avoid arrest, John conveniently escorts Carter safely across the border. John, identified as John Carter, teams up with Carter (Earle Hodgins), an ex-con who innocently served a ten-year sentence in prison; Linda (Marion Burns), his daughter, and comedy entertainers Ike (Perry Murdock) and Mike (Gordon Clifford). Upon arrival to Paradise Canyon, Carter finds himself ordered to leave town by saloon keeper and gang leader "Curly Joe" Gale (Yakima Canutt). After the mysterious abduction of Carter and Linda finds John doing some further investigation. Other members of the cast include Reed Howes, Gino Corrado and Joseph Domingues. Songs featured during medicine show include "When We Were Young and Foolish" and "Once Again."

Not quite the classic as John Wayne's latter masterpieces of RED RIVER (1947) or THE SEARCHERS (1956), PARADISE CANYON plays like an episode to a television anthology episode of the 1950s western show, yet in spite of limited production values, still works as entertainment, thanks to the fine support given to Earle Hodgins performing in the manner similar to W. C. Fields. Other than being a smooth talker never gives a sucker an even break, he has a passion for a wonder tonic Indian remedy that happens to be 90 percent proof. Aside from always being run out of town, like Fields, he has a pretty daughter to at least attempt to set him straight. Featuring some nice outdoor scenery for a black-and-white movie, and the feel-good presence of young John Wayne, PARADISE CANYON is short enough (53 minutes) to not bore its viewers.

Being one of the Lone Star/John Wayne westerns rediscovered on both commercial and public television with distribution on video cassette in the 1980s, PARADISE CANYON has become available on DVD and presented on cable television as American Movie Classics (1997-2002) and Encore Westerns, the latter cable company broadcasting PARADISE CANYON with intrusive and inferior underscoring that does help this to become recommended viewing. Stick to the original theatrical prints instead. (** elixirs).