Arizona (1931)

This could have been rather more than this simple melodrama, had Messrs. Seitz and Riskin been a bit more adventurous with their adaptation of quite a fun play. It centres around "Evelyn" (Laura la Plante) who is jilted by her beau, and so, reluctantly, marries "Col. Bonham" (Forrest Stanley) on the rebound. They relocate to his command in Arizona where they are soon joined by the colonel's handsome, football-star protegé "Bob Denton" (John Wayne) who, guess what - turns out to be the one who jilted her, and who now starts to take a bit of a shine to her younger sister "Bonnie" (June Clyde). Well, "Evelyn" is having none of this and sets up an elaborate plan to save her sister and disgrace poor old "Bob". This story is a bit thin, as are the performances - but it isn't hard to see why the dashing Wayne was drawing in the crowds - wooden as he is, he has charisma here in spades and plays well against the vengeful character and much more accomplished actress that is La Plante. This is really little more than a film for Wayne fans to tick off a list of his early works - not terrible, but not really anything much at all...