Texas Cyclone

I had caught this movie on Sony's channel GetTV. I thought it was an extremely entertaining B Western. It does not have the production quality of a post WWII major western but was a lot of fun. It was quite fun to see a young John Wayne and Walter Brennan. I was not familiar with Tim McCoy, but he had a really entertaining persona along with his giant hat. I got a kick out of how the sped up the bar room fight scenes kind of an early version of FX. If you like this one you may also like Two Fisted Law. Both movies are short so great viewing for an afternoon. These are Columbia pictures movies. John Wayne has a somewhat minor role,but one sees how he did have the persona to become a star shortly.

This film begins with a cowboy by the name of "Texas Grant" (Tim McCoy) riding into the small town of Stampede, Arizona where he is mistaken by everybody there as a man named "Jim Rawlings" who owned the Diamond R Ranch about 5 years ago but was presumed dead. At first, Texas Grant doesn't know how to handle this news, but while talking to a bartender named "Hefty" (Vernon Dent) he is convinced to adopt the new name because it displeases some of the bad hombres in town. He then immediately realizes the depth of their hatred when, as soon as he walks out of the saloon, two men try to kill him. Fortunately, he is able to defend himself from their attack, and subsequently learns that both of these men work for a local cowboy by the name of "Utah Becker" (Wheeler Oakman) who is trying to acquire the Diamond R Ranch from Jim Rawlings' widow "Helen Rawlings" (Shirley Grey). Wanting to keep up the charade, he then rides out to the ranch, but after talking to Helen he is convinced to stay a little longer to help rid her of some of the rustlers who have been stealing her cattle. What he doesn't realize is just how badly Utah Becker wants the Diamond R Ranch--and the lengths he will go to in order to have it. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that I was pleasantly surprised by just how entertaining this film turned out to be. Admittedly, it is an older film and doesn't have many of the refinements one would expect by today's standards. Even so, it had a good plot, plenty of action and some good performances by Tim McCoy, Wheeler Oakman and John Wayne (as the ranch hand "Steve Pickett"). That being said, I liked this rather obscure film and recommend it to those who might enjoy a movie of this sort. Above average.

This Tim McCoy movie is well worth seeing due to its cast. Although today McCoy is pretty much forgotten, the film also features a couple future stars--John Wayne and Walter Brennan (spelling 'Brenan' here--and wearing a lot of makeup to make him look much older). Plus, for fans of old time comedy (such as Mack Sennett and Three Stooges films) will probably recognize Vernon Dent as the bartender.

McCoy enters a new town and, oddly, everyone seems to know him and keep referring to him as 'Jim'. Apparently, this Jim was a bit of a hero who was loved by many and hated by others--but he died several years ago! Yet, in their eyes, Jim was somehow back from the dead. After talking with the bartender (with whom he develops an instant friendship), McCoy decides to pretend he is Jim to see what develops. However, this plan is sorely tested when he meets Jim's widow--who also thinks he's Jim! Using an old movie cliché, she faints at the sight of him. Soon he strikes up a friendship with John Wayne (who, for once, plays the sidekick role) and, along with some friends from back in Texas, they set out to set things right.

While this is a pretty standard B-western (aside from the cast), it is a nice film to watch simply because the DVD is of such a nice quality. Unlike many of Wayne's early Bs, this one is in nearly pristine condition and even has DVD captions in three languages (including English). In addition, the acting and script is a bit better than you'd normally find in a low-budget western. While the film won't change your life and the whole mistaken identity idea is silly if you think about it, it's well worth seeing if you enjoy the genre...or if you have an hour to spare and want to try one of these old-time films.

By the way, I'd like to explain my score of 7. This is relative to other Bs of the era as well as indicative of its watchability today. for what this is, it's pretty good. Also, if you like this one, McCoy and Wayne also did one other film together--"Two-Fisted Law".

I agree with the previous reviewer, if you can accept a very silly premise that a man could look and talk so much like a missing rancher who's from the town he rides into than you will enjoy Texas Cyclone. And of course you can see John Wayne in support of another cowboy hero Tim McCoy.

During this short stint with Columbia Pictures Wayne did two films with Tim McCoy. Both are directed by D. Ross Lederman, both written by William Coit McDonald, and both had a whole lot of the same cast members.

Repeating his role as villain is Wheeler Oakman and John Wayne is once again a cowhand, the only one it turns out who's honest and employed by Tim McCoy's 'widow' played by Sheila Terry. We also have for the first time Walter Brennan and John Wayne working in the same film. Brennan is the sheriff and he's made up to be quite a bit older than he was at the time. This may have been the beginning of all those old codger roles that Brennan played right up to when he was one.

Of course McCoy finds that Oakman is still up to no good just like when he left and he has to deal with all the problems Oakman is causing. With John Wayne's help all things are righted in the end and the reason for McCoy's absence is explained in a very typical movie fashion.

If it wasn't such a silly plot premise, I'd give the film a notch or two higher a rating. It's not bad for a B film and the young Duke is shown to great advantage here.

I mostly agree with the other comments, that the main attraction of this film is the early days of John Wayne, and also, the beginnings of Western "talkies." The rating is dependent upon how indulgent you are, and if historical interest means little to you, then your rating will be lower than mine. The basic plot element of mistaken identity is absurd. Beyond this, all of the cowboys seem to have immaculate clothing and hats--none of them appears to have been spending regular time with the cattle. But the appearance of these cowboys probably has much to do with the beginnings of "Gower Gulch," that part of Gower Street in Hollywood which Harry Cohn acquired to serve as the home of Columbia Pictures. This is obviously a Columbia film, because at the start of the film you can hear the audio fanfare for the Columbia trademark. Cowboys and other hopeful extras for a western film would congregate on the street near Columbia, hoping to be hired by the studios based in that area. Often, having one's own costume and hat helped in being hired. The numerous cowboys regularly seen on Gower led to the location being nicknamed "Gower Gulch."