The Dude Bandit

Extremely lightweight Hoot Gibson vehicle here. Using the familiar "stranger comes into town just about the same time a mysterious avenger starts putting the bad guy to pasture but everyone is too stupid to put 2 and 2 together" theme westerns like to utilize, (they also like to put superhero names to them as well) Gibson plays the title role, but no one seems to know this, because he's also a mild-mannered cowboy coming back into town after his father's death (and also to clear his business from shady cattlemen). There is of course the lame lame love interest, which doesn't really blossom until the final 30 seconds of this movie (and other movies too). So, if you're not expecting much, and you better not be!! This is an alright rabble rouser.

A virtual remake of Clearing the Range, which Gibson made just two years before. He's returns to his hometown to investigate the shady murder of a business partner, but pretends to be a Zorro-like wimp so that he can carry out his undercover investigation unhindered. Thankfully, everyone is so short-sighted that all he has to do is change into black clothes to prevent anyone from recognising him. Routine and unambitious, but Hoot is strangely likeable.

We appreciate that he was a "real Cowboy" and had been a rodeo rider. He acted in 218 movies and directed 9 films. Many of his present day Fans believe that there is more reality of the Old West in his movies than in many of the modern big budget (million $,s) spectacles. We admire his genuine honesty and natural sense of humor. Hoot had his greatest popularity in the 1920,s and his salary was usually $14,500 per week ( source IMDb Biography page which also contains much more fascinating additional information). By 1933, the Western movie was out of fashion and so "The Dude Bandit" was made as a B film. .Also Hoot was older ( he was 42 ) and not as agile. But to us, plain folk fans, Hoot is still great and we get lots of enjoyment from this movie

Back during the silent days, Hoot Gibson was a big western movie star. This is one of his talkies. Hoot still was a star, but his popularity had waned a bit. In many ways, Gibson reminds me of actors like William S. Hart and Tim McCoy--guys who really were not all that handsome but were solid in their roles--and little like the up and coming stars of the 30s (like Gene Autry and Roy Rogers). No, you wouldn't catch Hoot singing in his films! And, to look at him, you really wouldn't guess he was a star. Now this is NOT an insult--I like the guys who are not so pretty in my westerns!

The film begins with Hoot explaining to his friend that he's here incognito to investigate the death of his other friend, "Dad" Mason. But, in doing so, Hoot pretends to be a bit of a wimp and the bad guys don't realize that he's a man to be reckoned with! However, Hoot uses an alter-ego--a well-dressed bandit (thus the title of the film) who rights wrongs and does all the manly things Hoot can't let others see. This sort of plot device is a lot like the one used in Zorro films or in "The Scarlet Pimpernel"--a wimpy guy who is in reality a brave hero who fights injustice.

Unfortunately, a SERIOUS problem develops in the film--and it's not the fault of the original filmmakers. The beginning of the film is REPEATED later, as the same reel is played twice in the public domain version of the film! Obviously something is missing as well--and I wonder if a correct and complete version exists. It's a shame really, as Hoot is quite good in the film--pretty funny as the lazy and not particularly heroic cowhand. My advice is try to see a complete version or any one of Gibson's other films--this one is just frustrating as it is now. Especially because I liked what I got to see!