The Vanishing American

Zane Grey was a prolific & beloved author of many of the finest western novels ever. Screen adaptations of his works have had a spotty history, but this film is worth a closer look.

Scott Brady, Forrest Tucker and Lee Van Cleef stand out in this interesting western saga. Tucker in particular was under-appreciated during his career. This film helps remind the viewer how good he really could be, when given a classic story and a plumb role.

Along with Riders Of The Purple Sage, this was my favorite Zane Grey story. While a bigger budget would have helped, this film still captures some of the charm of the famed novel. Slightly above-average.

Marion Warner (Audrey Totter) inherits property in Navaho country controlled by ruthless Indian agent Morgan (Forrest Tucker) and his henchman Glendon (Jim Davis). Because the property is a source of water in this arid country, Morgan covets it. He also covets a young Indian girl whom he has imprisoned at the agency. When Marion uses her skill with a six-shooter to help the girl escape, Morgan plots to kill her as well as swindle her out of her property.

Meeting up with the rebellious Navaho Blandy (Scott Brady). Marion is drawn to him both as an ally and as a man. Together they attempt to save the Navauo, Zane Gray's Vanishing Americans. Along with her role as Adrienne Fromett in the film adaptation of Raymond Chandler's "The Lady in the Lake", this is one of Miss Totter:s best performances and gives this offbeat western it's zest.

I was surprised that Republic Studios produced such a western, with such a plot, very unusual for this company. Universal, Columbia, Paramount, 20th Century Fox studios gave us such stories of the close relations between White and native Americans: THE SAVAGE, RUN OF THE ARROW, FLAMING STAR; I mean a White raised by natives Americans or the contrary. I would not imagine that Republic pictures could do the same; Now, this is a good but not exceptional western, starring Scott Brady as the lead and Forrest Tucker as the villain. Good entertainment. I don't remember the original movie, made thirties earlier. A major western for the silent era.