Gun Play


59m 1935

Brief Synopsis

Intercepting Holt's mail, Meeker learns a gold treasure is somewhere on the Holt ranch and he sees the clue to its location. When he solves the puzzle he learns the treasure location can be found in the boots. But he earlier discarded the supposedly worthless boots and seeing Bill Williams now wearing them, he and his men go after Williams.

Film Details

Also Known As
Ace of the Saddle, Lucky Boots
Genre
Western
Release Date
Jan 1935
Premiere Information
New York opening: 25 Dec 1935
Production Company
Beacon Productions, Inc.
Distribution Company
State Rights
Country
United States

Technical Specs

Duration
59m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
5,320ft

Synopsis

During a pitched battle, Torado, a general in the Mexican army, is wounded, and he flees to a ranch across the border owned by his friend, Old John Holt. Many years later, Old John has died and left all his property to his grown children, George and Madge. Pedro, the only survivor among Torado's men, tells his friend Meeker that Torado buried treasure somewhere on the Holt ranch, and Meeker steals a message containing a secret code that John left behind, hoping that it will lead to Torado's gold. Meeker later opens the large trunk that John had left his children, but when he finds nothing in it except old clothes and boots, he throws its contents haphazardly into a ditch, where a pair of hungry and unemployed wanderers, Bill Williams and his sidekick, Frank Gorman, are resting. Bill is pleased when he discovers that one pair of the discarded boots fits him perfectly. Later, when Bill and Frank happen by the Holt ranch, they see Madge Holt being chased by a steer, and Bill rescues her by wrestling the animal. In gratitude, Madge hires the pair as ranch hands, much to the disappointment of Meeker, who had wanted the property to himself in order to search for the treasure unimpeded. Meeker discovers a message written in invisible ink on the cipher, which explains that the location of the Torado treasure is revealed on a piece of paper hidden in a boot. Realizing that he may have unwittingly thrown out the lucky boots, Meeker sponsors a novelty folk dance in order to gather up all the local boots, offering new pairs in trade for old ones. At the dance, Meeker notices the distinctive style of Bill's boots, however Bill refuses to hand them over, and after a fight with Cal, one of Meeker's henchmen, Bill, Frank and the Holts leave the dance. Back at the ranch later that evening, Bill and Madge realize their growing fondness for each other. The next day, Bill is chased and shot at by Meeker's men, but he manages to escape. After he finds the map to the treasure in the broken heel of his boot, Bill shows it to the Holts, and, together with Bill and Frank, they dig up the bags of gold, only to be confronted by Meeker and his cohorts. The Holts, Frank and Bill are pursued to the ranch house and a shootout ensues, but after killing two of Meeker's men, Bill runs out of ammunition. While Frank and the Holts pretend to surrender, Bill sneaks up to Meeker from behind and succeeds in disarming him. Madge and Bill embrace, and Madge declares that the Holt ranch will be theirs to manage together.

Film Details

Also Known As
Ace of the Saddle, Lucky Boots
Genre
Western
Release Date
Jan 1935
Premiere Information
New York opening: 25 Dec 1935
Production Company
Beacon Productions, Inc.
Distribution Company
State Rights
Country
United States

Technical Specs

Duration
59m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
5,320ft

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

The working title of the film was Ace of the Saddle. It is also known as Lucky Boots. According to modern sources, the cast also included Buck Morgan, George Morrell and Si Jenks.