West of the Divide (1934)

My Review

“West of the Divide” is a Pre-Code Western in which John Wayne plays a man who poses as a deceased killer in order to learn the identity of this father’s murderer and the fate of his long-lost brother. This excellent horse opera was well directed by Robert N. Bradbury, who co-wrote the screenplay with Oliver Drake.

The cast includes John Wayne as Ted Hayden posing as Gat Ganns, George “Gabby” Hayes as his sidekick, Virginia Brown Faire as his love interest, Earl Dwire as the sheriff, Lloyd Whitlock as the heavy of the piece, Lafe McKee as Mr. Winters, and Yakima Canutt and Dick Dickinson as goons of Whitlock. “West of the Divide” was successful as a low-budget, B-Western which was a second show of a double feature. It was produced by Lone Star Productions and Monogram Pictures.