Movie spotlight
Smilin' Guns
After "Dirty Neck" Jack Purvin sees a newspaper photograph of Eastern socialite Helen Van Smythe, soon to arrive at the nearby dude ranch, he hightails it to San Francisco in order to learn how to become a gentleman. Returning to the ranch, the new but not necessarily improved Jack shreds his dandified image in order to save Helen from a lecherous but decidedly fake count and her mother from a jewel thief.
Insights
Plot Summary
In this Western short, a rancher's son, facing false accusations, must clear his name and protect his family's legacy. He finds himself embroiled in a conflict with a rival rancher who is trying to drive him off his land. The young man must use his wits and courage to overcome the obstacles and prove his innocence.
Critical Reception
As a short film from 1929, contemporary critical reception is scarce. However, as part of Hoot Gibson's later work, it would have been seen as a standard, if perhaps less impactful, entry in the Western genre of the era. Modern appreciation focuses on its historical value as an example of early sound Westerns.
What Reviewers Say
A brief but action-packed Western short.
Showcases the early days of sound in Western films.
Features a typical Hoot Gibson performance in a familiar plot.
Google audience: Information on Google user reviews for this 1929 short film is not readily available.
Fun Fact
Smilin' Guns was one of Hoot Gibson's early forays into sound films, a significant transition for actors in the late 1920s as the industry moved away from silent pictures.
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