ridiculous rating

it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Another great Lone Star western and another town under siege. John Carruthers (John Wayne) sneaks into town - just in time to see the hotel's safe being robbed. The thief leaves a spur and while Carruthers is investigating Old Timer (George "Gabby" Hayes) puts two and two together and concludes that John is the "polka dot" bandit. He plays along with Carruthers and together they try to get to the bottom of the mystery of why no stores can reach the town.Before that they are involved in a "shoot em up" involving Danti's gang. Yakima Canutt, a legendary stunt rider, who also doubled for John Wayne played Danti.Eleanor Hunt was first seen in "Whoopee" - she had been a chorus girl in the original Broadway show - in the movie she had the romantic lead.She plays Betty Mason, whose father is killed in the shoot out and Wayne and Old Timer are almost blamed for that until she comes to their aid. They are just in time to hear Malgrove (Edward Piel Snr.) make an offer for the few remaining homesteaders that are left in the town. He will buy up their ranches for $100 each. John and Old Timer beg to be given a chance to bring in the supply wagon.There is also a terrific piece of action involving a runaway wagon. Carruthers (Canutt) jumps into the runaway horses and rescues the heroine.They do bring in the supply wagon and also solve the riddle of the "polka dot" bandit - it was Danti!!! Old Timer is hard to convince that it is not John!!!I can recommend this film.

A few years ago i went on a holiday to wales and in a shop i saw a DVD with 3 films that star John Wayne!Having got round to seeing Blue Steel at last,I have to say i was pleasantly surprised by how good it is. The Plot:During one night in a hotel,a bunch of outlaws sneak in and crack the safe and take all the money.Just after they leave,Wayne wakes up and (having seen the safe left open.)He decides to chase after them (what Wayne does not know is that someone else woke up,and thinks he did it!)Later on that day the outlaws shoot a girls father.With all this happening,can Wayne make the town safe again. View on the film:Direction/Screenplay-The writer and director was Robert Bradbury.One of the things Bradbury does well is to start the film the film off with scenes that feel a bit like the Frank Capra classic classic Arsnick and Old Lace.He also does well in creating other very enjoyable scenes(the barn yard scene and the stuns with the horses are the stand outs.) Final view on the film: A very enjoyable short John Wayne Western.

What's the best way for a bandit to maintain a low profile? How about making noise while robbing a safe, leaving behind an identifying spur, and wearing a polka dot neckerchief. Yakima Canutt is Danti, the Polka Dot Bandit in this 1934 Lone Star Western, but the gimmick is not fully carried out in the film. The central plot involves an unscrupulous town boss Malgrove (Edward Piel Sr.) who schemes to buy out all the local ranchers because of gold discovered in the topsoil (?). John Wayne portrays U.S. Marshal John Carruthers, and he aids a suspicious Sheriff Jake Withers (George pre "Gabby" Hayes), who seems to regularly uncover evidence pointing to Carruthers as the Polka Dot Bandit. Eleanor Hunt is Betty Mason, the romantic interest in the film, who brings to the screen a wide eyed silent film appearance. For fans of B Westerns, there's a lot to study in "Blue Steel"; for starters, it's interesting to see Wayne's character shoot directly into a crowd to knock a gun out of the hand of bad guy Canutt. This technique is used as late as the 1950's in a number of the Lone Ranger TV shows.In another scene, two baddies attempt to get the drop on Wayne's character. As he escapes into a lofty barn, he uses a lasso to scoop up one of his antagonists, but the roped victim never cries out to his partner for help. Similarly, as he engages the other in a fist fight, both remain silent throughout the encounter.Director Robert North Bradbury makes use of an interesting film technique where he fast forwards the motion during an action scene, usually involving riders on horseback in a non threatening sequence. It's effectively done and is also used by director Harry Fraser in some of his Wayne Lone Star films such as "Randy Rides Alone". Pay close attention during a chase scene as the bad guy posse pursues Miss Betty on horseback; when hit by a shot she falls to the ground seemingly unconscious, and as she lands she ever so slightly uses her leg to shift position. Within seconds she's scooped up by the vigilant Marshal aboard Gabby's buckboard, and then she miraculously climbs aboard her own horse to once again gallop away - what a gal!By the time it's ready to wrap things up, Marshal Carruthers and Sheriff Jake lie in wait, six guns trained on sticks of dynamite planted in the side of a rock face. As the bad guys make their way into the pass, their fate is sealed under tons of tumbling mountainside. As in so many of John Wayne's Westerns of this era, his character gets the girl without even trying. The scene fades with the marshal and his future bride riding off into the sunset, until it's time to do it all over again in at least another dozen or so Lone Star films.

This western was the second significant film in the development of George "Gabby" Hayes' cantankerous character who emerged as the old whiskered comedy sidekick in the Hopalong Cassidy films. Gabby plays it straight here as a sheriff who even shoots a baddie. The only "funny" things about him are the hole filled hat he wears, his big walrus mustache, & his typical slurred speech. The acting is good all around, except for Eleanor Hunt, who has that cute Clara Bow look, but she's brought that old silent film style to this movie. I love the old B westerns, & aside from my favorite, Hopalong Cassidy, to me the early John Wayne series is the next best. This is not one of Wayne's best, but it's a must-see for Gabby Hayes fans. I rate it 6/10.