Roamin' Wild

"Roamin' Wild" is a B-western starring Tom Tyler. Now it's very possible you've never heard of Tyler. After all, in most of his films he played supporting characters, such as henchmen for various baddies in westerns. He also played Captain Marvel in the famous movie serial. But he also starred in a few westerns as the hero...and "Roamin' Wild" is one of them. The film was made by tiny Reliable Pictures...a studio that eventually got absorbed into Monogram...a slightly better quality low-budget B-movie production company.

Tom Barton (Tyler) is a lawman who has been dispatched to Placerville. It seems that someone is posing as a lawman and is shaking down prospectors...and in one case even killing one of them. Tom takes the case because his brother is the marshal in that territory....and he wants to find out what's happened to him and why folks are getting away with lawlessness.

Soon after arriving in town, Tom appoints two deputies to assist him. One choice is an odd one, as Abe is played by tiny Max Davidson...about the farthest you could go when it comes to sidekicks! Davidson was famous in the silent and early sound days in comedies with Hal Roach...and he was, at most about 5'4" (but I really think he was smaller) and in his 60s and seemed about as intimidating as a tomato! Still, with my love of old comedies, I was thrilled to see him. And, having a comic playing the sidekick isn't that unusual, as a familiar sidekick in the Hopalong Cassidy films was Andy Clyde...who made tons of comedy shorts. The same can be said of Al St. John who was the sidekick in many films for a variety of cowboy stars....and he began in Mack Sennett silent comedies.

So is it any good? Well, it's not bad but also surprisingly stark. This is because the film was so low budgeted, they didn't provide any incidental music and nearly everyone you see is someone you won't likely recognize. Plus, I think Tyler played a good thug but didn't have the charisma or charm to be a hero. Overall, a flat but watchable western....and nothing more.

By the way, this film is supposedly set in Placerville. While it was actually filmed near Los Angeles, if you care, Placerville, California is about midway between Yosemite and Lake Tahoe...to the east of Sacramento. It's in the area where gold was discovered back in 1847 and a good locale for such a western.

Tom Tyler can play the lead or a henchman as good as anyone. Placerville is laden with outlaws with the likes of Al Ferguson and fixture of early westerns George Chesebro. As a result, Mary Madison (Carol Wyndham) can't make a go of the Madison Stage Line. She's thwarted at every turn by Marshal Lucas (Slim Whitaker). Also, silent screen comedian, Max Davidson has some great scenes as a clothing salesman who has a confrontation with the marauding band. Bud Osborne, Wally West, Earl Dwire, Lafe McKee and John Elliot complete this action packed western.

I like Tom Tyler's movies even if he wasn't the best actor. He just looked good on screen. Roamin' Wild is not a showcase of great acting! There were some cast members that had more talent than others, but overall the movie comes across as stiff, at least in the beginning. B westerns were made in a hurry and on a tight budget, but placing a camera at an optimum position would not have cost more money. The sets were good, but the way they were filmed made them look cheap. Despite all this, Roamin' Wild manages to get better and better as it goes along. The plot builds, and the action gets better. By the end the movie is great! You wouldn't expect that from the first few minutes, though.

The character that stands out the most is Abe Wineman (Max Davidson), who travels with a wagon full of clothing, pots and pans, etc. As the bad guys attempt to steal his wares, Tom Barton (Tyler) saves him. Abe becomes the equivalent of a sidekick although I would not give him a true sidekick status. The character is essential to the plot, but not given a spotlight like a real sidekick.

I have seen better features with Tom Tyler, but Roamin' Wild is worth watching. Just be patient. The movie improves steadily toward the end.