West of the Divide
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Robert N. Bradbury
John Wayne
Virginia Brown Faire
George Hayes
Lloyd Whitlock
Yakima Canutt
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
While searching for his long-lost brother Jim, who was kidnapped as a baby after his father was murdered by an unseen gunman, cowboy Ted Hayden and his companion Dusty Rhodes discover outlaw Gat Ganns dying from contaminated water. In Ganns's clothes, Ted finds a sinister letter of introduction, which is addressed to Gentry, the man who bought the Hayden ranch after his father's murder. Convinced that Gentry is connected to his father's killer, Ted, who resembles Ganns, assumes the outlaw's identity. In the meantime, Gentry, who has been unsuccessful at persuading his neighbor, Winter, to sell him his ranch, sends two of his men to steal $3,000 from Winter's daughter Fay as she rides into town. On the way to Gentry's ranch, Ted and Dusty stumble on Fay, who has been accidentally shot in the head by Gentry's men. After Ted and Dusty deliver Fay to the town doctor, Dusty deposits her money, while Ted finds Gentry and, posing as Ganns, agrees to kill Winter. While at Gentry's ranch, Ted meets "Spuds," an abused twelve-year-old boy, and later saves him when he loses control of his excitable horses. That night, as Ted and Dusty are about to kill Winter, Ted throws a rock with a warning note to Fay, and although Winter's cattle are stolen, his life is spared. Still determined, Gentry orders Ted to go to Winter's ranch the next day, offer to retrieve his stolen cattle and then kill him on the range. Ted, however, explains Gentry's treachery to Winter, but rides back to Gentry to tell him that he has killed Winter. After Gentry promises Ted his pay in the morning, he issues orders for his murder, which are overheard by Spuds. Spuds rides to Winter's ranch to warn Ted and there shows Ted an unopened letter in which Spuds is identified as Jim, Ted's brother, and Gentry, as their father's murderer. While Dusty and Winter take Spuds's letter to the sheriff, Ted fights with Gentry. After a fierce fistfight and chase, Gentry is killed by his own men, and Ted is reunited with his brother and an admiring Fay.
Director
Robert N. Bradbury
Cast
John Wayne
Virginia Brown Faire
George Hayes
Lloyd Whitlock
Yakima Canutt
Lafe Mckee
Billie O'brien
Dick Dickinson
Earl Dwire
Blackie Whiteford
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Although Dave Stoner is credited as the sound recorder on the film, all reviews and the copyright submission list John A. Stransky, Jr. as the recordist. The onscreen credits incorrectly list Lloyd Whitlock's first name as Loyd. According to modern sources, Yakima Canutt doubled for Wayne on this production, and Oliver Drake, a prolific Western movie writer and director, contributed to the film's story. This film bears a fleeting resemblance to Drake's When the Law Rides, a 1928 FBO Pictures production starring Tom Tyler (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1921-30; F2.6253). Modern sources also contend that West of the Divide is a remake of the 1932 Willis Kent film Reckless Rider, which Drake reportedly wrote. Modern sources add Tex Palmer, Artie Ortego, Horace B. Carpenter, Hal Price and Archie Ricks to the cast.
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States 1934
Released in United States 1934
