George O'Brien appeared in a series of B westerns at RKO during the late 1930s and early 1940s. Some hold up better than others, and they all stick to a fairly routine formula. O'Brien is always on the right side of the law, he's always romancing some beautiful girl (this time played by Laraine Day, billed as Laraine Johnson), and there's always plenty of outdoor action and scenery. These elements were a soothing balm for moviegoers still dealing with lingering effects of the Great Depression who needed an hour of quick escapism.
ARIZONA LEGION upends the usual formula a bit. O'Brien is still playing a good guy, but during the film's first twenty minutes, you wouldn't exactly know that. He's first glimpsed coming into town with pal Chill Wills, rough and wild, shooting up the place. Miss Day's father is a judge, and he seems to take amusement in O'Brien's behavior, not the reaction expected from a court official. We gradually find out that O'Brien is undercover, acting like a lawless cowboy, to get close to a gang of outlaws and unmask their leader, a guy known simply as The Chief.
The judge is in on the secret with O'Brien. During a private meeting, the judge tells O'Brien he just received word from the governor of Arizona that O'Brien and some other men are to be sworn in as Rangers. They will work to bring down the outlaw gang and deliver them to justice. But before law and order can be properly restored, there are several stagecoach robberies, naturally, with O'Brien getting closer to the truth about the identity of The Chief.
Complicating matters in the relationship that O'Brien has with Day is the arrival of an Army lieutenant (Carlyle Moore, in a role that would probably have been taken by Tim Holt if this was made a year later). Because of O'Brien's wild antics, Day has decided to call off her engagement with him, not knowing his behavior is all a ruse. She then starts to get close to the lieutenant.
The lieutenant is man from these parts who had been east for awhile. He comes across a lot more polished than O'Brien. Realistically, Moore is closer in age to Day, and he actually seems better suited to her than O'Brien...but because O'Brien's the star of this picture and the main he-man, of course, Day will have to end back up in his arms before the final fadeout.
ARIZONA LEGION upends the usual formula a bit. O'Brien is still playing a good guy, but during the film's first twenty minutes, you wouldn't exactly know that. He's first glimpsed coming into town with pal Chill Wills, rough and wild, shooting up the place. Miss Day's father is a judge, and he seems to take amusement in O'Brien's behavior, not the reaction expected from a court official. We gradually find out that O'Brien is undercover, acting like a lawless cowboy, to get close to a gang of outlaws and unmask their leader, a guy known simply as The Chief.
The judge is in on the secret with O'Brien. During a private meeting, the judge tells O'Brien he just received word from the governor of Arizona that O'Brien and some other men are to be sworn in as Rangers. They will work to bring down the outlaw gang and deliver them to justice. But before law and order can be properly restored, there are several stagecoach robberies, naturally, with O'Brien getting closer to the truth about the identity of The Chief.
Complicating matters in the relationship that O'Brien has with Day is the arrival of an Army lieutenant (Carlyle Moore, in a role that would probably have been taken by Tim Holt if this was made a year later). Because of O'Brien's wild antics, Day has decided to call off her engagement with him, not knowing his behavior is all a ruse. She then starts to get close to the lieutenant.
The lieutenant is man from these parts who had been east for awhile. He comes across a lot more polished than O'Brien. Realistically, Moore is closer in age to Day, and he actually seems better suited to her than O'Brien...but because O'Brien's the star of this picture and the main he-man, of course, Day will have to end back up in his arms before the final fadeout.