Si Jenks Movies
After years on the circus and vaudeville circuits, Si Jenks came to films in 1931. Virtually always cast as a grizzled, toothless old codger, Jenks was a welcome presence in dozens of westerns. In Columbia's Tim McCoy series of the early 1930s, Jenks was often teamed with another specialist in old-coot roles, Walter Brennan (17 years younger than Jenks). In non-westerns, Si Jenks played town drunks, hillbillies and Oldest Living Citizens usually with names like Homer and Zeke until his retirement at the age of 76. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1932
Film editor Lloyd Nosler was afforded his first opportunity to direct with the Tom Tyler western Galloping Thru. Tyler plays a young galoot who returns to his hometown after several years' absence, only to see his father shot down in front of him. The local constabulary doesn't seem to be too anxious to seek out the murderers, so Tyler takes the job on himself. Meanwhile, our hero's sweetheart Betty Mack is slowly being wooed away by Tyler's best friend (some friend!) The action is consistently exciting throughout, especially during the last reel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Betty Mack, Al Bridge, (more)
- 1931
The Man From Death Valley is steely-eyed western hero Tom Tyler. A mysterious figure in the opening scenes, Tyler rides out of the nowhere and into a dusty frontier town, there to renew his romance with an old sweetheart. Upon learning that the girl is engaged to the sheriff, Tyler is about to leave town when he overhears a plan to hold up the local bank. Our hero robs the bank himself to keep the money safe, but try telling that to the sheriff, who immediately throws Tyler in the slammer. With the help of his former sweetie, Tyler escapes from jail to track down the bandits -- whereupon he discovers that the sheriff himself is in cahoots with the crooks. Man From Death Valley was one of several mildly offbeat Tom Tyler westerns produced during the 1931-32 season by G. A. Durlam and Lloyd Nosler (who also directed). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Oscar, Stanley Blystone, (more)
- 1931
In this western, the Indians are chasing a cowboy whom they blame for a young woman's suicide. They believe the white guy seduced her on her wedding day and chase him all the way to Massachusetts where he ends up helping a woman get the estate that is rightfully hers. His Indian companion the talks to his pursuers and convinces them that the cowboy is innocent of the crime. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bill Cody, Andy Shuford, (more)
- 1931
Poor Marion Shockley finds herself the victim of both a robbery and a kidnapping in this obscure but quite well-made Poverty Row Western starring the diminutive Bob Steele. After saving Jane Rankin (Shockley) from her kidnappers, Johnny Day (Steele) is elected Cactus town marshal but what at first appears to be a breezy job proves highly dangerous when local bully Bart Morgan (Hooper Atchley) not only claims Jane as his but engages in a bit of cattle rustling on the side. Fortunately, Johnny is spared more trouble when Morgan is killed in a fight with another of Jane's pursuers, Red Thompson (Jay Morley). Near the Trail's End was the last of eight Westerns Steele did for low-budget company Tiffany and the only feature film to co-star Marion Shockley, a 1932 WAMPAS Baby Star better known for her work in comedy shorts and on radio. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jay Morley, Hooper Atchley, (more)
- 1931
Cowboy hero Tom Tyler dispenses Two-Fisted Justice in this energetic western. At the outbreak of the Civil War, President Lincoln assigns Kentucky Carson (Tyler) to guard an unprotected frontier outpost. In the company of his youthful sidekick (Bobby Nelson), Carson assumes his duties, which turn out to include saving a wagon train and rounding up a vicious band of stagecoach robbers. Former 2-reel comedy star Kit Guard enjoys one of his biggest talkie roles as a "Judge Roy Bean" type, while Barbara Weeks is the obligatory female lead. Two-Fisted Justice was directed by G. A. Durlam, production supervisor of the Tom Tyler unit at Monogram. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Tyler, Barbara Weeks, (more)
