Three Texas Steers

Three Texas Steers (1939)

*** (out of 4)

Fast paced Three Mesquiteers film has the gang trying to rescue a circus owner who's being harassed for her property. The story itself really isn't anything new or groundbreaking but if you've ever wanted to see John Wayne act next to a midget and gorilla then this is the film for you. The film never takes itself too serious and plays everything for laughs, which is a good thing because how can you take Wayne and a midget serious? There are a couple good chase scenes as well as a nice fight to go along with all the circus stuff. Roy Corrigan, one of the Mesquiteers, also worked as the gorilla!!!

Nancy Evans (Carole Landis), lovely circus owner, has a ranch that she's never visited, but for sentimental reasons won't sell to Mike Abbott. Her partners, secretly in league with Abbott, sabotage the circus to force Nancy to sell the ranch; instead, she goes there to live. Will her neighbors, the Three Mesquiteers, be a match for the secret swindlers?

Enjoyable 3 Mesquiters entry that mixes comedic moments with the usual fast-galloping chases, shootouts and death defy leaps from a horse to a team of horses. The pace flows, and George Sherman directs adequately. John Wayne's charm shines through, and Carol Landis is no slouch in that department either.

Before he was famous, John Wayne made a bunch of "Three Mesquiteers" movies with Ray Corrigan and Max Terhune. They're pretty silly, but since it was his time as Star of the Week, I watched a few of them. They're formula, one-hour westerns, where the three cowboy friends ride into town, solve a problem, capture the bad guy, kiss the girl, and ride off in the sunset in search of the next town.

In Three Texas Steers, it involves a circus (though you'd never know from the title). Carole Landis owns a circus, and when she refuses to sell to the bad guys, she starts getting harassed. In comes the cute cowboy and his two pals (no offense Ray and Max, but we all know why John Wayne became famous) and they try their best to save the day. It might take them a really long time, though, like, almost an hour. Honestly, folks, watching one of Duke's pre-Stagecoach westerns is probably enough. He made dozens and dozens of them, but as young and cute as he is, you'll enjoy yourself more if you watch the better quality, post-Stagecoach westerns.

An American Western; A story about a circus owner whose business is being secretly sabotaged by her partners because she refused to sell her inherited land. A trio of cowboys come to her aid to save the show from going under. This contemporary Western is modestly produced. The circus fire scenes were edited into the film from Circus Girl (1937). Mildly amusing moments emanate from broad-humoured oddities. The Three Mesquiteers have genial appeal with their 'do-good' mentality. There is good chemistry on screen between John Wayne and Carol Landis. All in all, good escapism, enjoyably silly slapstick.

After the success of 'Stagecoach', as well as seeing his wife give birth to their second child, Patrick Wayne, the previous year, the 32 year old John Wayne continued to act in westerns and immortalize the American West.