BROTHERS OF THE WEST

Tom Tyler

BROTHERS OF THE WEST (1937). Produced and directed by Sam Katzman.

Ed Wade (Bob Terry) is riding shotgun for a man named Chandler who fears a payroll robbery. When Chandler is shot and killed, Ed is taken prisoner by crooked lawyer Jeff Tracey (Roger Williams), who heads the gang. Tracey is engaged to Celia Chandler (Lois Wilde), who is convinced that Ed murdered her father, a charge devoutly denied by Ed's wife, Annie (Dorothy Short of Captain Midnight). Ed's brother, Tom (Tom Tyler of The Talk of the Town), a detective with the Cattleman's Protective Association up north, cuts short his move to New York City to come and save his brother.

Once upon a time Tom Tyler was a big cowboy hero for Republic pictures, but today he is better known for the classic serial The Adventures of Captain Marvel, in which he played the costumed super-hero. Tyler's career was cut short by health issues -- he only lived until fifty -- and hence he never became a big competitor for Roy Rogers, who also had a natural charm and smoothness that Tyler, at least in this film, lacks. Tyler, however, is handsome and does have the requisite toughness to handle the fight scenes, especially a lively one in the exciting climax. This is one of only five films that were directed by the prolific producer, Sam Katzman. He handles the material well enough that you wonder why he didn't direct more pictures.

Verdict: Adequate performances and a fast pace make this modern-day western easy to take  -- or leave. **1/2.