. . . but when Tim McCoy's "Tim Clark" looks for his, he finds a gold mine instead. Unfortunately, McCoy has zero charisma, apparently graduating from the Narcoleptic School of Acting. Alice Day, as Tim's girl "Betty," is even worse. Though TWO-FISTED LAW gives John Wayne second billing, there are at least 10 other roles more important than the light-lifting done by his ranch hand "Duke" (and with more lines). Among these is Walter Brennan's crooked deputy Bendix (but every Western fan knows that Brennan's dentures have more acting ability Mr. Tiptoes ever possessed, as well as better line readings). Other than those cast short-comings, the most that can be said of TWO-FISTED LAW is that it simply follows along in the deep ruts cut by all the low-budget Horse Operas of the 1930s Great Depression years. This message is that most if not all Rich People make their fortunes by duping employees into committing robbery, mayhem, and murder at their bidding, and then throwing them under the stagecoach at the first hint of trouble. (Though wealthy Crimelord "Robert Russell" gets some just desserts here, in Real Life the Rich become Red State icons with names such as Koch. (THINGS go better with Koch--NOT people!)

Old time Western movie fans get an unexpected treat in this Tim McCoy oater - future A-listers John Wayne and Walter Brennan are both on hand to lend support. Wayne's character goes by the unusual name of 'Duke' - who would have guessed that? Meanwhile Brennan finds himself cast as a villainous sheriff's deputy, coming on screen about the time Wayne disappears from the story.The opening credits list the name of Kurt Kempler relative to 'Continuity', so I made it a point to see if he did his job or not in regards to the story. As with many of these B Westerns from the Thirties, continuity is one of the last things on anyone's mind during filming and true to form, this one was no exception. For example, right after Tim Clark (McCoy) loses his ranch, he's left with no earthly possessions other than his horse, so he decides to go silver prospecting. A subsequent scene shows him guiding his mount and another pack horse through rough country, followed immediately by another scene in which he's shown riding along with no more pack animal. What happened there? Here's another one - recall when Tim Clark shows up following the express office robbery, town villain Russell (Wheeler Oakman) remarks on his 'new' bullet wound. Tim was shot in the shoulder a few days earlier and he was wearing a shirt, so how could Russell know he had been shot with no outward appearance of it's effect?Another instance I got a kick out of occurred when Tim is back at the express office with the sheriff and Russell henchman Zeke Yokum (Richard Alexander). Attempting to sort out clues about the robbery, Tim casually looks down, and there on the floor happens to be a piece of paper with a boot print on it that matches the metal heel mark on Yokum's boot. With the robbery having occurred a couple days earlier, why wouldn't the sheriff or anyone else have noticed it before? At least in Sheriff Malcolm's (Tully Marshall) case, you might chalk it up to old age. At the time of filming, the actor was sixty eight years old and looking every bit of it. You have to wonder why the town couldn't find a younger lawman. And by the way, that boot heel impression on the piece of paper was somewhat laughable, it could have been made by any boot! But I guess stuff like this didn't matter too much back in the day. These films were churned out in a matter of days and then it was on to the next one. However there was one interesting element here that I found kind of fascinating actually. It was when Tim McCoy took off on his horse after outlaw Russell, and his horse nearly stumbled before catching himself and getting upright again to continue the chase. If I had to guess, the horse might have been auditioning a near fall for a larger part in the next picture.

After losing his ranch to a crooked moneylender, Tim McCoy leaves town to become a silver miner, returning some time later with a plan to save a lady friend's ranch and possibly take back his own, only to become a murder suspect.Although an enjoyable western with a determined performance by McCoy, this is mainly notable for a supporting role featuring John Wayne, who despite having a few starring turns, isn't given anything to do even though he's second billed!Third billed Walter Brennan fares much better as a corrupt sheriff's deputy.

In 1932, the 25 year old John Wayne went down poverty row with the independent production companies. In this film, he developed his fist fight scenarios, adding a bit of humour to his acting as well as drawing out his romantic side.