Film Review of Law of Vengeance: Shirley Temple Sparkles in Small Part in 1933 Western Drama

The Law of Vengeance gets carried To the Last Man by writer Jack Cunningham; producer Harold Hurley; and director Henry Hathaway. Ben F. Reynolds, and Jack Scott handle cinematography and editing. Filming showcases:

• Mesa, Arizona;

• San Bernardino National Forest.

The 70-minute Western adapts Zane Grey’s (January 31, 1872 – October 23, 1939) 1921-published novel. Its distributor was Paramount Productions, Inc. Its USA-release date was September 15, 1933.

The movie begins with widowed soldier Mark Hayden (Egon Brecher) and Jeff Morley (John Forrest “Fuzzy” Knight) homeward-bound 5 days after Generals Ulysses S. Grant (April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885) and Robert E. Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870) meet in Appomattox on April 9, 1865. He comes home to:

• Father-in-law Grandpa Spelvin’s (Harlan Knight) death while eldest grandson Lynn (Jay Ward) retrieves a dead rabbit in Pine Holler;

• Mother-in-law Granny Spelvin’s (Eugenie Besserer) wrath.

Mark files charges against Chet’s killer (Noah Beery). The sheriff (James Burke) and the judge (Erville Anderson) refuse to have Jed hang for “feuding.”

Jed goes to prison. Mark moves children Ann (Rosita Butler) and Bill (Cullen Johnson) west. Lynn remains until Granny’s death 15 years later. Mark stakes his Grass Valley claim on May 15, 1866

The state penitentiary guard (Dick Rush) lets Jed out in 1880-1881. Jed moves to Nevada -- one-half day’s ride from Mark -- with:

• Daughter Ellen (Esther Ralston);

• Ex-inmate Jim Daggs’ (Jack LaRue) $700.

He rustles Mark’s cattle. Mark’s son-in-law, Neil Stanley (Barton MacLane), shoots Jed’s cousin, Pete Garon (John Carradine). Jed’s men wound Neil.

Ellen goes swimming. Jim is between her and her clothes. Lynn’s lassoing a birch opens the sluice gates. Jim retreats. Ellen thanks Lynn by:

• Recommending camping on the meadows;

• Serving breakfast bacon.

Lynn gives:

• Ann’s (Gail Patrick) and Neil’s daughter Mary (Shirley Temple) a dolly and son Taddy (Delmar Watson) boots;

• Ellen a dress;

• Mark Grandfather Hayden’s pistol set from Germany.

Bill gives Lynn White Cloud. Jed’s men grab Mark’s cattle and horses. Ellen realizes that Jed’s gift horse is Lynn’s.

Jim calls Lynn Fred’s (Harry Cording) killer. As Molly Hayden (Muriel Kirland) and Jeff start to kill two dark chickens, Jed’s men swarm to:

• Blast Dolly’s head;

• Kill Taddy’s dog;

• Tie Bill’s (Buster Crabbe) corpse to horse and saddle.

Molly (Muriel Kirkland) chides her father-in-law’s letting Colbys kill Haydens. Jed fires as Mark draws his rifle. Jim’s dynamite-provoked landslide kills almost every man. Jim strangles Jed.

The movie ends with:

• Lynn escaping to Ellen’s despite his injured left arm;

• Lynn’s gun falling from his loft hideaway;

• Ellen fighting Jim;

• Lynn stabbing Jim;

• Ellen and Lynn wearing wedding clothes.

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Shirley Temple, c. 1933: Gushi Soda (✄♥Ladyfroufrou♥★SparkleSparkle!☆★), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/56558327@N08/12456839174

Western Mania. "To the Last Man (1933) - Randolph Scott, Full Length Classic Western." YouTube, Feb. 9, 2013, @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n22ylXYLyc0