As Good As It Gets

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

George Houston is a name very, very few people will remember. He made about a dozen movies for one of the crappiest studios of the day, PRC, and even for PRC he was not particularly talented. Here in "Frontier Scout" he has as much charisma as a potato--and the writing and direction certainly didn't help to make him look any more interesting.When the film begins, it's the Civil War and Wild Bill Hickok and his two friends are saving the Union. Historically speaking, this is all poppycock--and, oddly, it really has nothing to do with the rest of the film!!What follows is a typical situation in which baddies are preventing beef from being shipped because they're either killing off the ranchers and re-branding their herds or charging them ridiculous rates to take the cattle to market. So, it's up to the historically inaccurate and dull as dirt Wild Bill to come to the rescue along with his friends.Don't say I didn't warn you about this one--there isn't a lot to recommend it. A super-dull script, super-dull acting and super-dull EVERYTHING make this a chore to finish.

The draw for this picture would presumably be the character of Wild Bill Hickok, but when all is said and done, the story plays out pretty much like any of hundreds of 'B' programmers from the Thirties and Forties. George Houston presents a fairly rugged and good looking portrayal of the title character and it's pretty much his picture all the way. Al (Fuzzy) St. John is Wild Bill's sidekick, Whiney Roberts, and I have to give some writer credit here; Whiney does seem to be a cross between a fox terrier and a jackrabbit.The story itself is a fairly standard and typical one for an old Western. Cattle rustlers are stealing large herds and disposing of lawmen sent to investigate, so Wild Bill is called upon to lend his Civil War buddy Steve Norris (Dave O'Brien) a hand when his own herd goes missing. When you get right down to it, you have to wonder why Wild Bill was given a nominal partner for this one; Fuzzy doesn't have much to do here except watch Bill go one on one with the bad guys. At least he's comical to watch.I guess I shouldn't be, but I'm usually surprised to hear how black characters were treated in these old films. There's a party scene at the Norris home where Hickok calls over the black family butler, saying 'Oh, come here boy". It's a rather innocuous line, but Mantan Moreland is such a great character actor that he's able to brush it off easily enough. I would have liked to see more of him in the picture, but he was only around for a few minutes. That didn't stop him though, from getting in the film's best line in a funny scene with Fuzzy. Neither of them can read, but Moreland has a unique explanation for why he can't read a hand written note - "I can read readin', but I can't read writin'." You know, I thought about that for a while, and it almost made sense!

The first third if this film takes place at the close of the American Civil War as Wild Bill Hickock goes once more behind enemy lines to get information which will end the war quickly. He shot but saved by the framed picture of the sister of his friend Steve. After the war Steve has relocated to the West where he has a company that ships cattle. Unfortunately the cattle have begun to disappear and the people who go to look for them also go missing, something thats included two marshals. A third marshal is sent who just happens to be Steve's old friend Wild Bill.A good little western that benefits from great casting. Everyone in the cast gives it a just enough that you actually care about everyone and it doesn't seem to be yet another factory produced western. If there is any real flaw to the film its simply that it's much too easy to spot the villain, it maybe a spoiler to point out that the small cast doesn't leave many possibilities. No its not the best western ever made but it is a good way to pass an hour.A word of warning, Alpha Video is listing Mantan Moreland on the cover of the video release as one of the stars of the film (the reason I picked the film up). To be certain he does appear in the film, but it is only in two brief scenes at a party that celebrates the close of the Civil War, maybe three or four minutes total (He's listed last in the on screen credits). If you're getting it just for Moreland rent it or wait for TV since the brevity of his appearance alone does not warrant spending a great deal of money to see it. (Though it is a very good program western and worth seeing on its own merits) 6.5 out of 10, 6 for IMDb purposes.

Greetings & Salutations! Mantan Moreland (1902-1973) certainly was the equal to cowboy sidekicks Fuzzy Knight and Gabby Hayes and probably featured in more movies than either man, some 134 all total in 40 years of entertaining America, especially in their darkest hours in World War Two when there was little to smile about. He thrilled us in 1940 in "The Man Who Wouldn't Talk," "Chasing Trouble,' Millionaire Playboy," also known as "Glamour Boy," and in "The Girl in Room 313." He certainly should have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as he ranks right up there with all the great stars of Hollywood!