In Old Arizona, produced and directed in 1928, was the first talkie Western. As the media was new, the film sounds a bit creaky. But there is no need to delve into the various indoor or outdoor sounds, like the frying of ham and eggs or the gramophone music or the mooing of cows or the funny jackass braying scene. One does notice – again because of the new media – overacting. Such exaggeration was generally needed – or was thought to be needed – in silent films to convey to the audience what the actor felt or thought. Directors even demanded it. So we should not be too harsh on the brave filmmakers that made the significant movie transition to talkies in the late 1920s.
The title of the movie is rather curious as the events occur only 30 years before it was made. There are references to the upcoming Spanish-American War (1898) and, early in the film, several soldiers sing, "Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built for Two)," a song popular in the 1890s. The US frontier officially ended in 1890, so one would think that the movie events in Arizona would have transpired decades earlier. But an 1898 Western is fine enough, as some areas were still wild. There is more talk than the action associated with Westerns, with the story really focusing on three people. But the finale is certainly unexpected unless one read the 1907 short story by O. Henry; that author's stories were known for their surprise endings.
Warner Baxter as the Cisco Kid won the Academy Award for Best Actor. But note that his role is not the "Robin Hood of the Old West" (Duncan Renaldo) of the 1950s TV series. Unlike Renaldo, the Kid here is harsh and unforgiving, although he is charming and is not a heartless murderer. He is somewhat the gentleman robber: when he holds up a stagecoach, he refuses to takes money from the passengers. Dorothy Burgess as the dithering and provocative Tonia Maria plays an alluring love interest for any man. Edmund Lowe, who looks like and has the mannerisms of an Irish Sergeant (Mickey Dunn), is supposed to have a New York accent ("Who is that goil?"). Then there are the typical stereotypes that lingered in Hollywood films for many decades (and still do). The Italian barber (Henry Armetta) is exuberant and a bit of a buffoon. The barber likes his women just plain "a-fat," not pleasingly plump.
Despite the film's showing its old age with its creakiness and slow pace for a Western, it is still historically important. So it is recommended for film and history buffs, and for the curious.
The title of the movie is rather curious as the events occur only 30 years before it was made. There are references to the upcoming Spanish-American War (1898) and, early in the film, several soldiers sing, "Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built for Two)," a song popular in the 1890s. The US frontier officially ended in 1890, so one would think that the movie events in Arizona would have transpired decades earlier. But an 1898 Western is fine enough, as some areas were still wild. There is more talk than the action associated with Westerns, with the story really focusing on three people. But the finale is certainly unexpected unless one read the 1907 short story by O. Henry; that author's stories were known for their surprise endings.
Warner Baxter as the Cisco Kid won the Academy Award for Best Actor. But note that his role is not the "Robin Hood of the Old West" (Duncan Renaldo) of the 1950s TV series. Unlike Renaldo, the Kid here is harsh and unforgiving, although he is charming and is not a heartless murderer. He is somewhat the gentleman robber: when he holds up a stagecoach, he refuses to takes money from the passengers. Dorothy Burgess as the dithering and provocative Tonia Maria plays an alluring love interest for any man. Edmund Lowe, who looks like and has the mannerisms of an Irish Sergeant (Mickey Dunn), is supposed to have a New York accent ("Who is that goil?"). Then there are the typical stereotypes that lingered in Hollywood films for many decades (and still do). The Italian barber (Henry Armetta) is exuberant and a bit of a buffoon. The barber likes his women just plain "a-fat," not pleasingly plump.
Despite the film's showing its old age with its creakiness and slow pace for a Western, it is still historically important. So it is recommended for film and history buffs, and for the curious.