The Saddle Buster

Unlike the usual B Western shoot-em-up films, this one is a little gem--no gunfights, no stereotypical bad guys, just a well-written story about a bronc rider who must overcome his fears to ride the unrideable horse.

Yakima Canutt was in charge of the stunts, the name speaks for itself in their quality. The supporting cast look and act as if they were real cowboys wearing work clothes, not dandified outfits. No one wears a gun. The bronco-busting scenes are excellent and carry a strong sense of accuracy, down to the comments of the men who help the rider onto his horse while it is in the chute.

TCM ran this film with other Tom Keene films in September 2014. Hopefully, no one will have to wait another ten years for their being shown again.

Tom Keene is a western hero of whom I had not seen much until recently, with Turner Classic Movies showing this one about four one morning in December of 2003. I do hope there will be more.

This particular movie made me a fan of Keene and of RKO westerns with one viewing.

"Saddle Buster" is, literally, unique. There is a cast of excellent characters, a story quite unlike any other B western I can call to mind, and it is presented beautifully.

What makes it unique is what is NOT there as much as what is. I won't mention what is missing and perhaps spoil it for any first-time viewers.

I urge all western fans to watch it. I just wish I had recorded it to be able to see it again.

Sound is pretty shakey on this one, but it is an early sound film. Tom Keene is "Montana", new hired hand on the ranch. Robert Frazer is Rance, who done him wrong. Frazer had started in the EARLY days of the silent films, but moved into talkies. died young from leukemia. Karma catches up, and when Montana returns to settle the score, it seems fate has stepped in to keep him from getting his revenge on Rance. Lots of bronc riding; looks like the whole thing could have been filmed at the Calgary Stampede. Not a lot of story plot here... Montana has his storyline, but not really much going on. Directed by Fred Allen; had edited tons of films, but this one one of only EIGHT films directed by him. Allen died young at 58, unknoen causes. Cookie cutter western. No big deal. Only 61 votes on imdb... they must not show this one on TCM very often. Meh, as they say.

The Saddle Buster is a unique western in that no one is carrying a gun. It's also has no sheriffs, no outlaws, no Indians. It has none of the usual elements that make up a western that a front row Saturday matinee afternoon kid would want to see in a western.

Instead it's about cowboys who work on a ranch and break wild horses and train for the rodeo. Tom Keene is one such. He hires on at Fred Burns's ranch and shows he's got the right stuff.

Keene also attracts the attention of two women, Helen Foster the owner's daughter and trick rider Marie Quillan. That leads to him trying to ride a particular wild horse that no one has ever ridden as the stallion is a real killer. The horse and the women are what drives the rest of the story.

The Saddle Buster is a different kind of B western from the usual fare in 1932.