Born to the Saddle

Ted Dorgan, a Chicago millionaire who works as a cowboy, rescues Jon Pearson and his daughter, Helen, when they are held up by Amos Judd and his men. The Pearson party later goes on a camping trip guided by Ted, and Pearson is kidnapped by Judd. Ted rescues him again. Clyde Wilpenny, a weakling dude in love with Helen, arranges a party at the lodge and invites Ted, hoping to show him up as a rough, uncouth fellow. Ted turns up in faultless evening dress and prevents a robbery by Judd.

This rather uninspired western can be found (18 minutes of it at any rate from what was by the looks of it an abbreviated two-reel version) in rather scrappy fashion (even scrappier than their usual efforts) amongst the ragtag of tops and tails of films from the Huntley Archives (under different titles, their numbers 17290 and 17291 - reverse for correct playing order). The episode of the camping and the hijacking and rescue of Pearson is missing.

Byron Douglas, daughter Duane Thompson, and would-be husband Leo White are on their way to Nelson McDowell's dude ranch when they are held up by Ams Judd and his thugs. Fortunately, they are rescued by Ted Wells, a wealthy broker who prefers his summer vacation of punching cows. McDowell knows who he is, but keeps mumchance about him being wealthy and all, and Wells settles in as their guide, being rejected by Miss Thompson, despite rescuing her and her father a couple more times. It's not until he shows up at a dance, rescues all the rich millionaires from Judd, and is revealed as a rich man that she gives him a tumble.

Wells was one of Universal's second-tier western stars, and the general purge later that year relegated him to the mass of B players: uncredited bits, stuntwork, and being Tyrone Powers' double in one movie. He died in 1948 at the age of 48.

It's no great shakes as a western, but Wells dos look good dressed in a tuxedo riding his horse. Also, the pace of the film is pretty good, especially when compared with Gower Gulch westerns in 1935.