Touches You

Purely Joyful Movie!

Brilliant and touching

A different way of telling a story

Director: WILLIAM NIGH. Continuity and dialogue: Harry Fraser. Story: Lee Sage. Photography: Edward Linden. Film editor: Holbrook Todd. Settings: Tec-Art Studios. Assistant director: Harry Fraser. Sound recording: B.J. Kroger. Associate producer: George M. Merrick. Presented by Louis Weiss. Produced by Supreme Sound Pictures (President: Alfred T. Mannon). Distributed by Weiss Bros., Artclass Pictures, Corp. No recorded New York opening. U.S. release: 2 January 1932. 66 minutes. SYNOPSIS: Peter Marlan is a professional gambler who works both sides of the border. When his brother, a Texas Ranger, is killed, Pete sets out to discover the killers. Along the way, he discovers that Bernie Donovan is actually...COMMENT: Although a bit rough at the edges (partly due to a few minutes of discarded footage), this is one of the best westerns of the year. And no wonder! It has a great story with interesting characters enacted by a great cast, produced on a fair-sized budget using some really atmospheric locations and sets, and it's directed with power by William Nigh, a top "A"-feature director in the 1920s, who was just beginning his descent into the "B" league. Ideally cast, Harry Carey gives one of his most impressive performances as the reluctant hero. Although his role is much smaller, Gibson Gowland is almost overpoweringly ferocious as the sadistic villain, while Mary Jane Irving enacts his victim so appealingly that we share every terrifying minute of her ordeal. AVAILABLE on a very good Platinum disc DVD.

Although fans of John Wayne's films will remember Harry Carey for his wonderful supporting roles, earlier in his career Carey had actually been a leading man--with many leading man roles in silent and talkies which included cowboy films as well as movies like "Trader Horn" and "Last of the Mohicans". "Without Honor" is one of his westerns where he was given the lead. Sadly, however, despite his nice and natural acting style that sets it apart from the average film in the genre, so much about the film is terrible that I just cannot recommend it for anyone.When the film begins, Pete Marlan (Carey) meets up with his brother, a Texas Ranger. It soon becomes obvious that Pete is the black sheep of the family. While not exactly a criminal, he's a tough gambler who is far from law abiding. But when the brother is murdered, Pete joins the Rangers and goes in search of justice.Why is this such a bad film? Well, the plot is extremely standard and offers few surprises...but what really bothered me while watching it is the acting and direction. For example, early in the film, Carey flubs a line (even fine actors do this on occasion) but the director didn't even bother re-doing the line! Additionally, Bernice (played by Mary Jane Irving) is a shrill and stupid character due to the bad acting and writing in the film. In fact, Irving's acting is so bad that I found myself laughing when she delivered some of her over-wrought lines! Another example of bad writing is when the baddies reveal the entire plan as Pete is hiding in the shadows! Who does this sort of exposition?! After all, the two guys KNEW what was happening--so why did they talk about it and the plan?! Overall, a dopey film that I wanted to like.

Harry Carey Sr. and the rest of the cast seem to be stuck in silent picture mode a good part of the time in this picture. Dialog between characters is punctuated by uncomfrortably long pauses, making the character interaction somewhat less than credible. Carey himself is involved in a lot of these scenes, and you have to wonder why the actors would think it would be a good idea to communicate this way. Combined with the stiff movements of the characters, this is a bit of a chore to make it through.Then there's the story. The bad guys were smuggling, but what it was I don't know. But the whole smuggling plot is interrupted by Pete Marlan's (Carey) quest to find his brother's killer, and reunite a former flame (Mae Busch) with her long lost daughter. But get this - remember the character Vanero (Ed Brady)? He stated that he was biding his time while Donovan (Gibson Rowland) raised her so that he could marry her. What?? - for how long, like twenty years? The kid was taken away from mother Mary right after villain Steve Henderson had Mary's husband killed. He then used a forged bill of sale to convince Mary that he bought their place! Then, if you thought THAT was hard to follow, how about the Ranger Captain, Frank Henderson (Lafe McKee)? Why did Pete Marlan keep calling him Chief White Eagle??? OK, he had white hair, but what was the connection to the Indian name? None of this was explained, and hence didn't make any sense.Notwithstanding Harry Carey's long and successful career in silent films, he's generally effective here even though a bit long in the tooth. My quick math puts him at fifty four at the time of the picture, and looking maybe even ten years older. Which is why he looked a tad old for Mary, and even creepily more so for Bernie (Mary Jane Irving) while she was hanging off him and begging to be taken away.

Every now and then you find a real gem in the rough among the old genre films.This is the toughest-minded Western of its type I've ever seen. There are elements here prophetic of the 'adult Western' that would come into its own in the '50s, and some elements are suggestive of what became the 'film noir' of the '40s. As a gambler out to avenge his brother's murder (really a precursor of the 'anti-hero' type that would dominate Westerns in the '60s), Harry Carey gives a bravura performance: Marlin (Carrey) is on his way to meet the gang leader. Mary: Oh, that's dangerous! Marlin: Huh? Mary: That's dangerous. Marlin (pushing his hat forward): Gosh, I hope so.Mary. BTW, is Marlin's old flame, a woman of questionable repute who has married a bad man after being widowed and who gave her daughter away - a daughter raised by an alcoholic who beats her.Yeah, this is not one for the kiddies. Consider for instance the fist-fights - typical barrel-house round swinging, broken chairs, etc, right? Wrong. How about close order efforts to get behind the other guy and knock him down with a gun butt. Fighting fair is for people who don't like to win.Short, dark and handsomely made, this film is light on genre conventions and hard on impact. Absolutely remarkable for it's period. 1932? Absolutely remarkable.