Not only is this the first major sound western, it is the first done out of doors. The sound isn't all that great, booming and fading, but consider that this was made in the "dawn of sound" era, 1928, and at that time the great MGM had yet to make any talking pictures. The camera work, however, is excellent, even if limited as to action by the tyranny of the new microphone. Fox films were keeping up with pioneering Warner Brothers fairly well.
Suggested by "The Caballero's Way", a story by William Sidney Porter (O. Henry), the main character, "The Cisco Kid", has been considerably upgraded. Porter's "Kid" was a ruthless bandit, who didn't like people who got in his way, especially sheriffs. In the film, the authority figure is not a sheriff, but an army Sergeant co-opted by the locals to run down the "Kid" and "terminate him with extreme prejudice". The movie has added what amounts to an extensive prologue to the original story elements, in which the "Kid" robs a stage carrying considerable gold, thus depriving a number of the locals of considerable cash.
The Sergeant seduces, without too much trouble, the girl-friend of the "Kid". He persuades her to betray him, more or less Judas fashion, but the wily bandit overhears the plot and takes a cleverly sadistic revenge. In case you haven't read the story or seen the film, I'll say no more. When I first commented on IN OLD ARIZONA some years ago, I had not then seen the excellent DVD now available, and was depending on my memory of seeing the movie in 1928, when it was in general release. (Yeah, I'm that old!) As a result, I described an ending which either belonged to another "Cisco" movie, or was perhaps an alternate ending to this one. In any case, the DVD presents the same ending as the O. Henry story.
Despite all the shortcomings, compared to modern films, this old museum piece has considerable pictorial charm. There is a brief sequence showing ham and eggs frying, with appropriate sound effects, that brought out a gasp from the audience in 1928. Sound and sight, Oh, boy! The outdoor sequences, possibly using some process photography, look to be depicting the Tonto Rim country of Arizona, but some of the rocks might just have been in Griffith Park! Now, the acting, beyond that of Warner Baxter, is about high school senior play level, if that good. Edmund Lowe is merely mediocre, but Dorothy Burgess, alas, is really pitiful. Baxter, himself, seems very mannered, probably going slow to be sure he didn't slip on his "mexican" accent. The best acting is found among the "bit" players. They seem more comfortable in their roles and project more naturally than the principals. One might be forgiven for suspecting that they got less attention from the directors. It does take some patience to "enjoy" this old film, but I can't say I was bored. For fullest enjoyment, you have to project yourself, if you can, back to 1928, and imagine that you can actually smell that ham frying in the skillet. And the "Kid" and the girl never ate it! They "retired" into another room.
Suggested by "The Caballero's Way", a story by William Sidney Porter (O. Henry), the main character, "The Cisco Kid", has been considerably upgraded. Porter's "Kid" was a ruthless bandit, who didn't like people who got in his way, especially sheriffs. In the film, the authority figure is not a sheriff, but an army Sergeant co-opted by the locals to run down the "Kid" and "terminate him with extreme prejudice". The movie has added what amounts to an extensive prologue to the original story elements, in which the "Kid" robs a stage carrying considerable gold, thus depriving a number of the locals of considerable cash.
The Sergeant seduces, without too much trouble, the girl-friend of the "Kid". He persuades her to betray him, more or less Judas fashion, but the wily bandit overhears the plot and takes a cleverly sadistic revenge. In case you haven't read the story or seen the film, I'll say no more. When I first commented on IN OLD ARIZONA some years ago, I had not then seen the excellent DVD now available, and was depending on my memory of seeing the movie in 1928, when it was in general release. (Yeah, I'm that old!) As a result, I described an ending which either belonged to another "Cisco" movie, or was perhaps an alternate ending to this one. In any case, the DVD presents the same ending as the O. Henry story.
Despite all the shortcomings, compared to modern films, this old museum piece has considerable pictorial charm. There is a brief sequence showing ham and eggs frying, with appropriate sound effects, that brought out a gasp from the audience in 1928. Sound and sight, Oh, boy! The outdoor sequences, possibly using some process photography, look to be depicting the Tonto Rim country of Arizona, but some of the rocks might just have been in Griffith Park! Now, the acting, beyond that of Warner Baxter, is about high school senior play level, if that good. Edmund Lowe is merely mediocre, but Dorothy Burgess, alas, is really pitiful. Baxter, himself, seems very mannered, probably going slow to be sure he didn't slip on his "mexican" accent. The best acting is found among the "bit" players. They seem more comfortable in their roles and project more naturally than the principals. One might be forgiven for suspecting that they got less attention from the directors. It does take some patience to "enjoy" this old film, but I can't say I was bored. For fullest enjoyment, you have to project yourself, if you can, back to 1928, and imagine that you can actually smell that ham frying in the skillet. And the "Kid" and the girl never ate it! They "retired" into another room.