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TRACY THE OUTLAW (Foto-Art Studios, 1928) directed by Otis B. Thayer is a silent western based on the then legendary story of Harry Tracy (1875-1902). Distributed by C. John Predari, 723 Seventh Avenue, New York City, and taken from the play by Pierce Kingsley, aside from the title character virtually unknown to film history, so is this 70-minute production.

FORWARD: "Thirty years ago - fate changed a fun-loving and reckless westerner into an outlaw - in the flash of a gamblers gun. Misfortune made Harry Tracy a killer." The story opens with Harry Tracy (Jack Hoey), a drifter cowboy out of a job and broke. With the help of his good friend, Billy Weston (Howard Chandler), Tracy obtains work as a hired hand at the Gallagher ranch. While in San Antonio, Texas, Tracy goes in a game of cards with a man he discovers to be cheating. A fight ensues. The cheater's gun goes off, killing him. Harry is accused and sent off to jail. He later escapes jail with another prisoner, Dave Merrill (Jean LaRue), heading for the state line. When a paymaster is robbed and killed by a couple of bandits, Tracy, who happens to be found with the postmaster's saddlebag strap inside his pocket, is arrested. Even though the robbery was witnessed by a boy hiding up a tree, claiming the arrested man is innocent, he's not believed by the sheriff. With the help of Mary Merrill (Dorris Chadwick), who discovers Dave is not her real brother, Tracy escapes an angry lynch mob but not his reputation as "Tracy the Outlaw."

Although TRACY THE OUTLAW is not produced by a major studio as Fox, Paramount or Universal using top-name movie cowboys as Fred Thompson, Tom Mix or Buck Jones, the four actors listed in the casting credits are unknowns who remain unknowns. All other actors in support go uncredited. Had this been a major 90-minute production, possibly TRACY THE OUTLAW would have turned into one of the classics of the silent screen. The name of Harry Tracy might have been as known as other cowboy legends as Jesse James, Billy the Kid or Wyatt Earp. Although the Harry Tracy character never became a major subject matter talkie western of the 1930s or 40s, he did turn up again decades later for the 1982 adaptation of HARRY TRACY - DESPERADO starring Bruce Dern.

Reportedly on DVD from distributors of public domain titles, this is one movie I never knew existed until I accidentally came across it on MGM-Plus on-demand cable channel. Even though the story in itself has possibilities, benefitting from fine location scenery and action scenes, the print viewed was mute, having no underscoring whatsoever, making this more unpleasant viewing than watching a scratchy print with acid stains. At least after all these years, it's available for viewing. I'll give it that. (**)

TIGER SHARK (First National Pictures, 1932) directed by Howard Hawks, is not a documentary about ocean sharks nor a crime drama about a loan shark named Tiger. It's actually more about the life and times of tuna fishermen and the hard work that goes with it. Starring Edward G. Robinson in one of his more interesting characterizations, that of an accented speaking Portuguese fisherman sporting an earring, mustache and likes singing or humming "Arbul Abulbul Amir" to himself. Most admired for playing tough guys mostly from the gangster genre that elevated him to stardom starting with LITTLE CAESAR (1930), TIGER SHARK is further proof that Robinson can perform any sort of role convincingly without being typecast, yet these sorts of challenges are what sometimes escapes the memory of both his fans and critics alike. Working opposite theater actress Zita Johann and Richard Arlen (on loan from Paramount) for the only time, Robinson acquires satisfactory co-stars who cast properly in their roles.

Set at a San Diego waterfront in the hometown of Tio Tuna Fishing Fleet, the story opens with news clippings about the Santa Maria tuna boat lost at sea for four days. Among the missing are Captain Mike Mascarenhas (Edward G. Robinson), Pipes Boley (Richard Arlen) and Jean Fernandez (Maurice Black), floating in a lifeboat drifting through the ocean craving for food and water. Following a fight that sends Fernandez slipping into the ocean to be eaten away by tiger sharks, and shortly before their rescue, finds the passed-out Mike with his hand dangling in the water only to have another tiger shark bite it off. One year later, having acquired a Santa Maria II, Mike, with a hook in place for his missing hand, resumes life as a tuna fisherman with Pipes by his side. While on another fishing cruise, Manuel Silva (William Riccardi), another member of the crew is killed through an ocean fall. Returning to shore, Mike gives the sad news on Manuel's death to his daughter, Quita (Zita Johann). During the course of time, Quita becomes fond of both Mike and Pipes. She marries one of them only to have second thoughts.

Others appearing in this production other than tunas and tiger sharks are J. Carroll Naish (Tony); Vince Barnett (Fishbone); Leila Bennett (Muggsey); and Sheila Bromley (Red). Zita Johann gives a sincere performance, with TIGER SHARK being a welcome change in seeing her in something other than best known and most revived movie opposite Boris Karloff in THE MUMMY (Universal, 1932). Realistic fishing scenes are one of its true highlights.

If the plot summary sounds familiar, the material was reworked by the studio several times, notably BENGAL TIGER (1936), a circus story headed by Barton MacLane, June Travis and Warren Hull, and MANPOWER (1941) with Edward G. Robinson (again), Marlene Dietrich and George Raft in a revamped storyline from fishermen to linemen. Due to its frequent television showings over the years, MANPOWER is the best known of the trio. For comparison for the two Robinson versions, they are individually different yet each of equal status.

Never distributed on video cassette, TIGER SHARK, which occasionally plays on Turner Classic Movies cable channel, is available for viewing on DVD format. (*** jaws).

RAIN OR SHINE (Columbia, 1930) directed by Frank R. Capra, is not a movie about the weather bureau in a radio station. It's a circus story based on the 1928 Broadway musical featuring Joe Cook, Tom Howard and David Chasen reprising their original stage roles. No songs from the play were carried into this production, though the popular underscoring to "Singin' in the Rain" is used during its opening credits and exit music. With the exception of the director, the leading players here mean little or nothing to film scholars. According to sources, Joe Cook was a popular vaudeville headliner and Broadway entertainer in the 1920s who later found fame on radio. With this being his feature movie debut, followed by five comedy shorts, his second and final feature film role was as ARIZONA MAHONEY (Paramount, 1936), which is just as obscure as RAIN OR SHINE itself. For being Capra's only direction with a circus theme, it presents itself as a series comedy skits thrown together making this 90-minute production more pleasing than its limited plot development.

The story introduces Mary Rainey (Joan Peers) of the John T. Rainey Shows, who's inherited her late father's circus attraction. Having run the circus for thirty years to great success, Mary struggles after only one season avoiding bill collectors and having her troupe work without salary. Mary is loved by the smooth talking "Smiley" Johnson (Joe Cook) but her real interest is Bud Conway (William Collier Jr.), a new member of the troupe. With the circus heading towards the next town of Shrewsberry with performances going on rain or shine, Mary is not only faced in getting to meet and accepted by Bud's wealthy parents (Edward Martindel and Nella Walker) holding a high society function but falling victim of ringmaster Dalton (Alan Roscoe) and lion tamer Foltz (Adolph Milnar), a lion tamer, scheming to take over the circus by causing it to fail.

Regardless of its assortment of circus types, RAIN OR SHINE very much belongs to one-man show named Joe Cook. His comic support of Tom Howard (Amos), with derby and horn-rim glasses, makes one immediately think of Robert Woolsey from the Wheeler and Woolsey comedy team for RKO Radio (1929-1937). For anyone who's missed reading or overlook the opening credits might very much believe the Amos character is played by Robert Woolsey. David Chason (Dave) with the wavy hair, makes one think of Harpo Marx. Though very much silent as Harpo, Chason does speak some lines as well as taking part of the Cook and Howard exchanges. Has this been a Marx Brothers comedy, chances are Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Zeppo might have inherited roles enacted by Cook, Chasen, Howard and Collier Jr.

RAIN OR SHINE has its moments where comedy bits are concerned. There's little of the Capra trademark that would later make him famous. Regardless of some hits and misses, it's an agreeable production to watch, rain or shine. (Scene where Cook acting as a one-man circus performer with juggling act captured from all different camera angles ranks one of its highlights). Though Louise Fazenda, a major comedienne of comedy shorts and feature films mostly for Warner Brothers, has limited scenes, could have been a victim of tight editing in favor or Cook's verbal talents.

Formerly shown on American Movie Classics (1997-1998) and presented more frequently on Turner Classic Movies since 1994, RAIN OR SHINE which cannot compare to other circus movies as Cecil B. De Mille's THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH (Paramount, 1952), is very atypical Capra which may be one the reasons it's seldom revived or discussed among other of his latter and finer classics. (***)