A Dull and Dreary Entry, Strictly for Bill Patton's Army of Fans!

"There were only three things Bill Patton was afraid of," Yakima Canutt once remarked. "Guns, horses and the outdoors." In this movie, oddly enough, Patton uses his fears as a basis for comedy. Unfortunately, the attempt doesn't quite come off, thanks to insipid direction from Horace B. (for Boring) Carpenter and a script of little interest from the same gentleman. Condensed to two reels, the movie would still inspire a minimal involvement, but expanded to five, it's a real wash-out. All the extra characters that Carpenter so laboriously introduces in the first ten minutes or so, are given virtually nothing to do, and none of them are played with any charisma whatever, although Miss Donald is photographed far more attractively here than in Carpenter's later effort, "Just Travelin'". That movie did have the benefit of eye-catching tints, but this one labors along in dull and heavy black-and-white. But I liked the iris effects.

I won't attempt to write a synopsis of the story, because my impression is radically different from that of the Press Sheet. Maybe I fell asleep. Or maybe Mr Carpenter regarded that synopsis as merely a starting point and wrote in deviations while shooting. In any event, I found McCormick's laughably hirsute villain far more entertaining than the forever ruminating, incorrigibly white-faced hero, Bill Patton.

The crime genre features criminal activities, investigations, law enforcement, crimes, and the pursuit of justice. Crime stories often revolve around the planning, execution, and consequences of criminal acts, as well as the efforts to solve and prevent such acts. They explore various aspects of criminal behavior, motives, and the moral dilemmas faced by both perpetrators and those seeking to uphold the law.

James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

The Western genre features stories set primarily in the 19th-century American Old West and often depict the rugged frontier life, exploring themes of individualism, justice, morality, and the clash between civilization and the untamed wilderness. The genre has its roots in the historical context of westward expansion and the challenges faced by pioneers, settlers, outlaws, and lawmen.

John Wayne and Harry Carey Jr. in The Searchers (1956)

Bill, apparently a dude, watches an outlaw gang rob the stage. He then joins the gang saying he wants to become an outlaw too. The gang has taken the driver as a hostage and when his daughter comes looking for her missing father, she is made prisoner also. Still posing as a dude, Bill now sets out to free the hostages and bring the gang to justice.

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

"The Gentlemen" and "Slow Horses" return this fall, while the "Reacher" spin-off series "Neagley" makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

&quot;The Gentlemen&quot; and &quot;Slow Horses&quot; return this fall, while the &quot;Reacher&quot; spin-off series &quot;Neagley&quot; makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

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