With the arrival
of the “talkie,” sound pictures were quickly integrated into each studio. In
one short year, the new technology had spread across the industry and into each
genre. Some films were later in arriving to the world of sound than others.
Musicals and dramas filmed on studio lots and sets were first to be wired for
sound, whereas it took a bit longer for the films shot on location.
One of the
defining characteristics of a western is the wide open terrain of real
locations. In Old Arizona was not
only the first western sound feature, but it was also the first “talkie” shot
outdoors. Granted, much of the exterior action happens on a small set, very
rarely showing the expansive terrain westerns were known for. There is one main
robbery sequence at the beginning of the film which takes place completely
outdoors. This is some of the poorest sound in the film, but it is also history
in the making. Looking back at some of the first digitally created special
effects is also comical now, but at the time it was impressive. I can only
imagine what the film industry must have looked like in 1929.
The story is a
simple love triangle set in the west, though the film’s ending is far more
daring than anything you would expect to see in a mainstream film. In some ways
the narrative seems to have the sentimentality of a film noir, set in a
cheerful western. A charming and friendly bandit named The Cisco Kid (Warner
Baxter) coincidentally makes friends with the very sheriff (Edmund Lowe) trying
to kill him. In a ploy to destroy the “bad guy,” the sheriff enlists the help
of The Cisco Kid’s unfaithful lover (Dorothy Burgess).
This woman is
the infamous bandit’s one weakness, although she is vain and self-serving. More
interested in proving that she can get any man she wants than staying faithful,
The Cisco Kid’s woman quickly jumps into bed with the sheriff in a plan to kill
the bandit and steal his loot. Directed by Raoul Walsh and Irving Cummings and
featuring an Oscar-winning performance by Baxter, In Old Arizona is a clunky little western offering endless
enjoyment despite its flaws. The Blu-ray release transfers what I can only
assume is the best existing print, though not much restoration seems to have
been done. The sound and picture go in and out depending on the scene, due to
aging and typical wear.
Entertainment Value:
7/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 7/10
Historical
Significance: 10/10
Disc Features: 1/10
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