zardoz-13 Review of Code of the West

Code of the West (1947)

Average Horse Opera with Jess Warren in the Stirrups

[5/10 · 14 July 2014]

Raymond Burr has a field day as a despicable dastard in director William Berke's "Code of the West" as he tries to swindle anybody and everybody. At one point, heroic James Warren criticizes Burr: "I hear you never wear a gun when you figure on having someone murdered." Warren wears a white hat, while Burr sports a black hat. Bob Wade (James Warren) is as plainspoken as he can be. Wade and his Hispanic sidekick John Laurenz complicate matters for villainous Burr when they show up with a wagon train. Town boss Boyd Carter (Raymond Burr of "Without Reservations") is buying up land as cheaply as possible. As it turns out, Carter has insider information about the coming of the railroad. Not surprisingly, nobody else knows anything about the railroad. Meantime, Carter needs all the land that he can get. He wants Bob Wade's real estate, and he sends Sheriff Hatfield (Harry Woods) and some henchmen to scatter his claim stakes. Wade and Chito Rafferty surprise them and wing one of them. Bob lassos one hombre and discovers that Sheriff Hatfield was doing the dirty work. He works Hatfield over and takes the latter's badge. He confronts Carter about Hatfield's activities. Hatfield has assured Carter that he will take care of Wade. As it just so happens, Hatfield brandishes his revolver and tries to shoot Wade, but our hero drills him with a one shot. Naturally, Ruth Stockton (Debra Alden) is appalled by this behavior. "I don't like trouble, I just want to live like other people," Wade informs the heroine, when her father and she visits him at his ranch. Banker Henry Stockton (Harry Harvey) and Bob go into business together as livestock partners in a herd of Herefords. Initially, Carter not only wants the elder Stockton eliminated with extreme prejudice, but also he wants the $30 thousand Stockton has it. Now, Carter preys on the good intentions of Henry Stockton and his daughter, while he lets dance hall gal Milly (Carol Forman) take advantage of Harry Stockton (Robert Clarke of "Alienator") who has no idea that he is being played for a fool. Eventually, Harry wises up when Milly and Carter's second-in-command Matt Saunders (Steve Brodie of "White Heat") abduct him at pistol point. Our hero overtakes the stagecoach transporting Matt and Milly with their kidnapped guest and thwarts the felons. Wade climbs atop a rock and leaps onto the stagecoach. Later, he has a knock down drag-out fisticuffs with Carter who he pummels into submission. Jess Warren is as lanky as Gary Cooper but his facial features resemble Will Bill Elliot. He packs one revolver on his right thigh. He isn't the liveliest fellow in the room, but he cuts a good figure as a gunslinger. Indeed, Jess gets the girl at fad-out. This Republic Studios dust raiser boasts some terrific production values and the Lone Pine, California, scenery is very rugged. Things are pretty cut and dried. The only mystery is how the heroes deal with the bad guys. Burr easily steals the show, and Berke does wear out his welcome. Some of the dialogue is quotable.