Considering the release of this film on the early threshold of the talkie film era, and with the hindsight of a couple hundred Western films under my belt, I was rather surprised by the originality of some of the scenes presented here. The opening sequence almost suggests that it IS a silent film, until broken by the cry of an abandoned baby in a covered wagon, discovered by a pair of codgers named Cash Holbrook and Jeff Cameron (William Farnum and J. Farrell MacDonald). At odds over who'll bring him up, Cash takes the baby and heads West with 'Bill'.
Fast forward some twenty years, the baby has grown into Bill Boyd, or at least his character, Bill Holbrook. At the time of the movie, Boyd at age thirty six looks somewhat heavier around the middle than he would as his alter ego, Hopalong Cassidy. Bill attempts to get the former friends to reconcile their disagreement that has grown increasingly bitter over the years. When Bill discovers tungsten ore on Cameron's property, he throws in with the Cameron's to develop a mining operation and get closer to Miss Mary Ellen (Helen Twelvetrees).
Most self references to "The Painted Desert" use the opportunity to promote the movie as the first speaking role for Clark Gable. The actor acquits himself reasonably well, though he's given the task of being a no good slimy polecat who attempts to further undermine the relationship of the former partners, and derail the budding romance between Bill and Mary Ellen. You can tell his acting is a bit forced, especially in the final confrontation with Bill when he outs himself.
As others have mentioned, the lack of typical Western style action is apparent, but what makes the film difficult for a lot of viewers is that every... spoken... word... and... sentence... is... followed... by... a... pause... that's... so... looooong. With normal dialog, the film probably could have clocked in at under an hour.
To my mind though, the final scene presenting the showdown between the senior Holbrook and Cameron is entirely original and one I've never seen before. Realistic too, in that handguns of the era depicted were never accurate beyond a distance of about twenty five feet. I won't spoil it for you, though Bill Boyd figures in the outcome. Let's just say he'll be a little late for his wedding.
Fast forward some twenty years, the baby has grown into Bill Boyd, or at least his character, Bill Holbrook. At the time of the movie, Boyd at age thirty six looks somewhat heavier around the middle than he would as his alter ego, Hopalong Cassidy. Bill attempts to get the former friends to reconcile their disagreement that has grown increasingly bitter over the years. When Bill discovers tungsten ore on Cameron's property, he throws in with the Cameron's to develop a mining operation and get closer to Miss Mary Ellen (Helen Twelvetrees).
Most self references to "The Painted Desert" use the opportunity to promote the movie as the first speaking role for Clark Gable. The actor acquits himself reasonably well, though he's given the task of being a no good slimy polecat who attempts to further undermine the relationship of the former partners, and derail the budding romance between Bill and Mary Ellen. You can tell his acting is a bit forced, especially in the final confrontation with Bill when he outs himself.
As others have mentioned, the lack of typical Western style action is apparent, but what makes the film difficult for a lot of viewers is that every... spoken... word... and... sentence... is... followed... by... a... pause... that's... so... looooong. With normal dialog, the film probably could have clocked in at under an hour.
To my mind though, the final scene presenting the showdown between the senior Holbrook and Cameron is entirely original and one I've never seen before. Realistic too, in that handguns of the era depicted were never accurate beyond a distance of about twenty five feet. I won't spoil it for you, though Bill Boyd figures in the outcome. Let's just say he'll be a little late for his wedding.