The Man from Utah (1934)

My Review

John Wayne stars as a drifter who is hired by the sheriff to go undercover at rodeos to investigate gangs who are murdering championship riders to steal their money in “The Man from Utah.” This B-western movie was one of many that Wayne appeared in before his big break in John Ford’s classic “Stagecoach” (1939).

Co-stars include Polly Ann Young (sister of Loretta Young), George “Gabby” Hayes, Yakima Canutt, Edward Peil, George Cleveland, and Lafe McKee as Judge Carter. “The Man from Utah” was popular at the box office for Monogram Pictures. Director Robert N. Bradbury gave the Duke a “singing cowboy” scene where his voice is dubbed. It was filmed in the rugged desert landscapes around Lone Pine, California, including the Alabama Hills and the Owens River. Great job by cinematographer Louis Clyde Stoumen.