Tombstone Canyon

Ken Maynard stars in "Tombstone Canyon" released in 1932 by World Wide Pictures. The film sustains interest during its fairly brief running time. Two reviews seem quite fascinated with World Wide's logo which opens the picture for about three seconds. The immaturity level of the people writing these reviews seems pretty low. Are they adults or horny teenagers?

"Tombstone Canyon" (1932) combines an above average story with Ken Maynard (the all- time best movie cowboy) and Cecilia Parker (Andy Hardy's blonde sister). Plus it was filmed in California's spectacular Red Rock Canyon State Park (Canti, CA.) which was to become the scene of countless western movies and many of the 1950's western television series. All these factors make for an excellent combination as this early sound film is a very entertaining feature of slightly less than 60 minutes.

The film begins with a wrangler with only the first name Ken (Maynard) fighting off ambushers in Tombstone Canyon. Ken gets unexpected assistance from a cowgirl named Jenny Lee (Parker). Jenny rode out to meet him at the request of the man who requested that Ken come to the area for some information about his identity. Ken does not know who his parents were and has never adopted a last name.

Tombstone Canyon is a spooky place that most of the locals avoid because they fear a spectral figure called The Black Phantom. The Phantom was been systematically killing cowboys from the Lazy S. ranch, and frightening everyone else with his banshee like scream.

Ken and Jenny must contend with the owner of the Lazy S who wants him dead for some reason; and tries several times to frame him for murder. The town's sympathetic marshal refuses to arrest Ken, believing in his innocence and reasoning that the best way to solve the mystery is by giving Ken a free hand to investigate.

One thing to avoid is the 1990 VHS version being distributed by MNTEX Entertainment and titled "Classic Westerns". This is the one with a pair of Tombstones on the cover. They used a truly horrible print of the film and most scenes are so dark it is difficult to follow them, let alone pick out many of the details. Probably the worst commercially released print I have ever run across. Hopefully the other versions and the DVD are better.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

After one of the greatest studio logos I've ever seen (check out those whirling hooters!) and getting all hyped about that, the next hour is a pretty boring escapade. Ken Maynard, who's shirt seems to be saying "look at my buttons and my armpits!" stars as Ken, a cowboy new to town, but has a lot of clothes stashed away somewhere, who is looking to find out who is his father. There are a lot of mysterious deaths going on, by one "Phantom Killer", who wanders around canyons in, yes, a cape and big hat (he looks like the V for Vendetta guy), and everyone in town thinks that Ken is the Phantom. It's up to Ken to prove them wrong and find out who his father is! Gee. One guess. This is SLOW. The plot just creeps along, not giving us a lot of suspense. The acting is OK, but the guy playing the sheriff seems to be sleepwalking through this role. As proved before in other movies, Ken Maynard is not much of an action star, as his fight scenes sure are flat. There are MUCH MUCH better westerns out there.

The opening hook is a real grabber. In fact, the movie's best scenes are the action among the other-worldly rocks and spires. 'Other-worldly' is apt since a caped figure called the Phantom Killer occupies the rocks with a deadly rifle and a shattering scream. So Ken's got a lot to contend with, since he doesn't even know his real identity or why cowboy Sykes and his gang are trying to kill him. Plus, just who's side is the Phantom really on; first it seems one and then the other. Good thing Ken's got Tarzan, the wonder horse, to help. And what matinee hero would be complete without a cute girl helper trailing along (Parker). Oh sure, it's standard matinee fare except for the creepy Phantom angle, and a couple of plot twists. At the same time, credit outstanding cinematographer Ted McCord for many of the complex scenic compositions. He later graduated to a string of A-productions including Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (1948). Unfortunately, my DVD copy had a lot of fuzzy sound, a consequence I guess of the many copies in circulation (IMDB Trivia). Nonetheless, the hour amounts to matinee time well spent and with an unexpected ending.

Although many Ken Maynard features are noted for their lack of believability in the story telling, there was something about his on screen presence that makes us watch him -- he just comes off as the 'real thing.' You could see it in the way he would instinctively pat or interact with his horse(!!) and delivering such dialog to the heroine as, "Miss Jenny, you spill a kinda mean loop yourself. You've got me just as good as throwed and hog tied already." To which Jenny replies, "That makes me awfully happy, Ken." Woo! they don't make movies like this any more!

This one is thoroughly enjoyable and has a touch of mysterious creepiness. "The Phantom," dressed all in black with a bat-like cape, inhabits Tombstone Canyon, where he picks off with a shotgun various hands of the Lazy S ranch. Ken shows up there on his way to find out the identity of his father, but gets involved with Jenny Lee (Cecelia Parker) at her father's ranch branding and 'dehorning' cattle.

For more of Cecelia before her Andy Hardy movies, check out the serial "The Lost Jungle" (1934) and the John Wayne "Riders of Destiny" (1933).

The Western elements all build quickly; in fact, it begins with Ken being ambushed in the Canyon by an unknown gang. Then we swiftly get fist fights, the romance ("Let's go get the ring!"), Ken being framed and jailed for murder, and shoot outs in Tombstone Canyon. There's one too many visits to Tombstone Canyon, and the final hunt down for Ken there goes too slowly.

But then we have a great action finale with 'The Phantom,' Alf Sykes, his son and Ken all fighting or hanging off the highest cliff while Jenny and her father's men speed to the rescue with Ken's horse 'Tarzan.'

A good 1930s western, mainly because of Ken Maynard.