Cavalry

Robert Bradbury writes and directs a wonderful movie that encompasses many elements. The initial focus is the Reconstruction and the turbulent era following the Civil War. However, there is an incredible depth involving love, redemption, sacrifice and forgiveness. At the beginning, Bob Steele is in a moving scene as a Yankee soldier with the Confederate General he saved. Another is when Frances Grant and her Uncle Lafe (Earle Ross) being burned out by guerrilla warfare. These opening scenes set the stage for the captivating drama and great acting performances to follow. Budd Buster plays a dual roll as Honest Abe and the wagon master. This is only to be matched by the most versatile actor ever, Hal Price along with henchmen Karl Hackett and Ed Cassidy. The Bob Steele scenes communicating with the Indians involves the intricacy and subtleties that should have been used more often in this period. Also, the story of the wagon train was brilliantly interwoven in Bradbury's storyline. Cavalry is a wonderful movie and I hope someday there is a remake.

This is an ugly film and I am very surprised the other reviews let this pass without comment. The film begins during the Civil War. In some god-awful scenes, you see a plantation where the happiest slaves in film history live. They LIKE being in bondage and when the war ends, they are beside themselves and want the Master to stay. But, in a ridiculously teary and melancholy scene, the Master leaves, as Yankee raiders have destroyed his home. While such was often the fate of plantation owners during the war, the well-fed, non-beaten, non-sexually exploited and happy slaves were just too much--and I could imagine viewers today tossing a show at the TV when this sort of idyllic view of slavery is portrayed!! It's historically inaccurate and rather gross. Why not a film about happy folks in concentration camps, then?

The war is now over and Bob Steele has been sent west to ensure that the telegraph lines are put in to connection the nation. In addition, some dirt-bags (the same Yankee raiders but now living in the west) are trying to start their own nation and it's up to Bob to kick butt and restore peace. But how does Steele's story relate to the good folks at the plantation? After all, he's a dang Yankee (though a nice one) and they were good children of the Confederacy?

Overall, the acting is good and the story is pretty good--but the prologue is just grotesque. Watch it if you like but if you aren't offended by the start of the film you might want to read up on this period in history, as it was nothing like this...at least on this planet!

Admittedly, 1930's westerns are not everyone's "cup of tea". However, when viewed in context, they offer fine entertainment in a short amount of running time. This 1936 oater by Bob Steele is no exception. In this film, written and directed by his Dad, Steele demonstrates the scrappy likabilty that made him a star for several decades.

In this film, Steele is a Captain trying to protect a much-needed telegraph line from the shady Leeds. While many of the co-stars are unknown to today's audiences, the great Earl Dwire makes a notable appearance. Dwire and Steele make this one a must see for fans of early western talkies.

Enjoy this one pardners, Bob Steele was one of the best !

Dad Bradbury writes and directs one of his best efforts. Bob Steele comes on the scene in heroic style as a Yankee soldier saving a Confederate General. Meanwhile, beautiful Frances Grant and her Uncle Lafe (Earle Ross) are burned out by guerrilla warfare. Also, one of the most versatile actors ever, Hal Price along with henchmen Karl Hackett and Ed Cassidy give the wagon train folk and telegraph people more than they bargained for. Great work also by Budd Buster who plays a dual roll as Honest Abe and the wagon master.

I have to give credit to Republic Pictures for the villainy in this Bob Steele film Cavalry. Rarely have I seen a villain like Karl Hackett have such an immense scheme as this one. Such villainy on a grand scale deserved a much bigger budget than Herbert J. Yates could ever have given a film.

Hackett is a disgruntled former Confederate who doesn't believe in surrendering. He's got nothing less on his mind than the establishment of another country in the west, separated by a buffer Indian nation between the Mississippi and his new Confederacy. This means arming the Indians and also preventing the construction of a telegraph.

Which is what Captain Bob Steele of the Union Army is sent out west to do, protect the telegraph and find out who and what's behind the sabotaging of it. Along the way there's time for a little romance with Frances Grant another disgruntled southerner.

Cavalry is not too bad a B western from Republic, their product was usually a cut above Monogram and various fly by night outfits.