In this nifty Western, action opens with exciting moments at a rodeo where Jim Traft (comedian Benny Baker) is an onlooker and it is revealed that Traft is to be willed a ranch in Arizona, although he is obviously better suited for city surroundings. At the rodeo Traft is able to make an acquaintance of a wrangler whose name is similar to his, Jim Travis (Tom Keene), who he persuades to swap places with him at the ranch since a codicil in Traft's uncle's will stipulates that his nephew must learn the cattle business. When Travis arrives at the Traft ranch, he quickly impresses the crew there that he is the genuine article, and leads his hands in the construction of a drift fence, to contain his cattle and to keep rustlers and other interlopers off his spread. Successful construction of the fence is endangered by a band of rustlers headed by Clay Jackson (Stanley Andrews) who utilizes the fast draw of local rancher Slinger Dunn (Buster Crabbe) as his primary weapon. Jackson is applying pressure upon Slinger's sister Molly (Katherine DeMille) to wed him, and the grandmother of the siblings (Effie Elssler), matriarchal doyen of the Dunn ranch, approves of Jackson, which complicates matters since Travis (a Texas Ranger in disguise) is familiar with the rustler kingpin's felonious past. Based upon the novel of the same name by Zane Grey, which appeared in serial form two years prior, DRIFT FENCE benefits from the direction of Otho Lovering, a sterling film editor who utilizes fades to perfection, and the viewer feels no need for filler, as the work snaps along to an exciting conclusion. Paramount supplies an enjoyable cast and, in addition to those mentioned, Irving Bacon, Leif Erickson and craggy-faced Walter Long give solid performances. In only 55 minutes of film, this production yields an interesting story and dialogue, augmented by good acting, with comedy, romance and gunplay in the mix.
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rsoonsa24 February 2002
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Buster Crabbe is top billed in "Drift Fence", though it seems that honor should have gone to Tom Keene who has more screen time and is at the center of the story most often. Keene's character is undercover Texas Ranger Jim Travis, who trades places with an Eastern city dude when it looks like it might help him track down notorious cattle rustler Clay Jackson (Stanley Andrews). Jim Traft (Benny Baker) would rather be in college studying art, but his uncle's will sets him in the direction of Prescott, Arizona where he's about to inherit a ranch, as long as he learns the cattle business.
Buster Crabbe portrays Slinger Dunn, a quick draw artist who sides with the local ranchers against the Traft outfit. The Traft's are building a drift fence on their land to put a stop to their cattle losses, but in siding with Jackson, Slinger's only willing to go so far and won't have any part of rustling. Crabbe's character takes an unusual amount of derision from Grandma Dunn (Effie Ellsler) who hounds him into taking a harder stance against the Traft's. Complicating matters is the presence of Slinger's sister Molly (Katherine DeMille), who initially opposes Traft, but softens up throughout the story until Jackson makes his final play.
The film adds in some humorous light spots every now and then involving the Traft's Chinese cook, along with the real Jim Traft's decidedly non Western attire. Right after Travis appears for the first time as Traft, he raises an eyebrow with ranch foreman Windy (Irving Bacon) as he shoots a tomato can off a post with a 'lucky' shot. Later in the story as some of the ranch hands ride up on an injured worker at the fence line, Travis remarks - "That's as neat a job of creasin' I've ever seen". That to me should have been a dead giveaway to the rest that he was more than an Eastern transplant.
Though the story itself is fairly standard, there's just the right mix of action, romance, humor and shoot 'em ups to pace it along to a satisfying conclusion. To complement my enjoyment of the movie, I've been able to acquire it's original theatrical poster. The slogan across the top of the poster appropriately reads - "When The Shootin' Starts... Count Me In!" -
It's odd that this film is touted as a Buster Crabbe film, as he's clearly a supporting actor in this one. Instead, little-known Tom Keene is the star--the good guy who has come to save the day. In contrast, Crabbe plays a bit of a baddie...a baddie who later has a change of heart.
The film begins with an Easterner heading to the West. However, he's obviously out of his element--especially as he's expected to deal with cattle rustlers. So, Keene agrees to take the guy's place--and he pretends to be a tenderfoot when he's really a tough rodeo hero. In response, the baddie Clay decides to sick 'Slinger' Dunn (Crabbe) on them. Will evil triumph or will goodness and justice reign? Overall, this is a decent but generally unremarkable B-western. It lacks the songs and many of the typical B-western clichés--which is a plus, however. Watchable and fun. -
coltras3518 April 2024Tenderfoot Trask gets rodeo champ Travis to take his place as the new owner of a ranch having trouble with rustlers. To stop the rustling Travis and his men build a drift fence. Out to stop them is Clay Jackson and his men led by Slinger Dunn.
Buster Crabbe gets top billing in this Zane Grey western but Tom Keene is the hero who pretends to be a tenderfoot whose father owns a ranch susceptible to rustling. Of course, we learn later on that he's a Texas Ranger, after a bad hombre behind the rustling. Crabbe isn't a bad guy but he's just well meaning, hoodwinked by the villain. Drift Fence is a nifty b western with a good cast of characters, humour and action. The finale packs a punch with gunplay.