'The Jazzman' was Warner Brothers' first talking film, in 1927. Small studios sprang-up to avail of the new technology, using various brand names for their sound systems. 'Big 4 Film Corporation' & production company 'National Players', using the proprietory' "Cine-phone" produced this transitional Western: Wally Wales & Virginia Brown Faire played the leads (Mr Wales shows the technique of expressing volumes without sound, early in the film, when he meets Miss Faire on her horse and tells her that he'd "do anything" for her -- his facial expressions undergo a symphony of changes, especially read in the eyes, in order to portray a cowhand who thinks he has no chance with her because the foreman's got her locked-up and is about to fire him: really, this scene has one foot in the silent, and the other in the talking, picture eras -- and it is quite charming for anyone not cynical. The photography and action are very above average, and comparable to many much later films in quality. Here & there, there are evidences of lack of confidence by the director -- &/or producer -- that regress to some of the less refined, awkward quick vignettes of silent films, and these are indoor scenes -- such as Wally cranking-up the wooden-boxed wall-phone and finding the line to the ranch dead (where was the operator he'd have to ask to connect to the line??) Also, the script messes-up in silly little ways occasionally, which would have been so easy to avoid (the plot is good, though simple; the acting and humour a little awkward in spots, but the characters of the real people acting are strong; and the direction, photography, and naturally free acting style was all shot on-location [a good working ranch not far from Burbank, one supposes, and maybe up Riverside way, north of Los Angeles]). Alas, the sound is uneven at best, but one can endure for the sake of knowing that the technology was infant -- and the entertainment quite good never-the-less, with some good horsemanship and large, well co-ordinated cast. The seamier side of saloons is suggested, the street horse & wagon scenes were realistic and well-executed. Again: an apparent lack of confidence in the direction (or slipshod meddling or insertions) mars this entertaining "classic", the which could have been stellar with a little more care and properly & evenly recorded sound. So, 'Breed of the West' has some strong character actors mirroring the strength of frontier life, great photography and outdoors co-ordination; and it is a film for cinema students & enthusiasts & Westerns addicts & children, and not to be compared with the 'entertainment value' or critical finesse sought by most movie-goers.
