Lawless Range

Lawless Range is a classic 1935 Western film featuring the evergreen Hollywood icon John Wayne, alongside Sheila Bromley and Frank McGlynn Jr. The movie, which is part of a series of 16 Western movies with John Wayne released by Warner Bros. in the mid-1930s, is notable due to the inclusion of Wayne who was in the process of establishing his eventual super-stardom as a Western hero.

Set in the wild and untamed landscape of the American west, Lawless Range tells the tale of two brothers, John Middleton (John Wayne) and Tom (Frank McGlynn Jr). The two brothers are as different as night and day. John is a compassionate, level-headed, and daredevil law enforcer. In contrast, his younger brother, Tom, is a reckless and ambitious man, driven by his pursuit for material wealth and easy living.

Taking advantage of Tom's avaricious nature, the villainous local businessman, Mason (Will Allen) and his evil henchman, Butch Martin (Wally Howe), manage to convince the young man to join their criminal scheme. Mason oversees a lucrative counterfeiting operation camouflaged as a hunting reserve, and he plans to use Tom as the perfect scapegoat.

All the while, John remains ignorant of his brother’s plight, as he assumes his duties as a deputy under the direction of Sheriff Reid (Wally Howe), who is secretly on the villain's payroll. Unbeknownst to John, the sheriff is fully aware of Mason's illicit activities and works to divert suspicion away from Mason's operations, even as John's investigation begins drawing him closer to the truth.

Sheila Bromley joins the story as Ann Mason, the unsuspecting daughter of the villain, Mason. Ann, a beautiful and strong-hearted woman, slowly starts catching the eye of John, and a romantic subplot begins to form. Their relationship plumbs the depths of moral quandary as John finds himself torn between his duty as a lawman, his love for Ann, and his family's endangerment.

The tension further escalates when an undercover government agent arrives in town to investigate the counterfeit operation. This character acts as a wild card, adding another level of intrigue to the mix. Will he discover the truth about Mason and the sheriff? Will John save his brother before he becomes the fall guy for the counterfeit money scheme? Would John's newfound love disconnect her father's criminal activities? These are the questions that add to the suspense behind the narrative's triumphant progression.

Lawless Range's enduring appeal owes to the quality of its leading performance by John Wayne who, despite the film's run-time of barely 53 minutes, manages to create a character brimming with charm, swagger, and a sense of justice that audiences have come to expect from his star persona. Even at this early stage in his career, Wayne's command of the screen is palpable, particularly in his scenes opposite Sheila Bromley; their budding on-screen relationship is laced with a sweetness that belies the movie's rough-and-tumble setting.

Furthermore, performances by Frank McGlynn Jr. as the troubled Tom, and Wally Howe as the conniving Sheriff Reid add depth to the overall narrative. The film is centered around the eternal clash between ambition and brotherhood, good and evil, lust for power, and an adherence to justice. These themes provide the film with emotional breadth and resonate deeply with audiences around moral dilemmas.

The film is enriched by its setting. The expansive desert landscapes are captured beautifully, and the dusty, sun-drenched vistas effectively bring the film's environment to life. Coupled with a dynamic musical score that effectively underscores the drama, the film's presentation does a commendable job of immersing viewers in its world.

In essence, Lawless Range is a classic example of the American Western movies of its time that takes viewers on an engaging ride through the lawless terrains of the Wild West. With its loved star in John Wayne at the helm, this film is an entertaining watch and a must for any fans of historically significant Western films and John Wayne classics. It's indeed a testimony to how these films have shaped the standard for western genre that we dearly love and enjoy today.