A Poverty Row pre-Code western from M. H. Hoffman Jr.'s Allied
Pictures, directed by Otto Brower. Rodeo champion turned cowboy star
Hoot Gibson plays William Penn "Peaceful" Patton, a mild-mannered
cowhand raised on pacifism who is mistaken for the notorious outlaw
known as the Hard Hombre. Trading on the outlaw's fearsome
reputation, Peaceful strong-arms a valley of ranchers into a fair
division of grazing land — until his mother arrives and exposes the
masquerade, and the real Hard Hombre rides in for revenge. Shot
around the Vasquez Rocks, the film also carries a quiet piece of
screen history: Florence Lawrence, the very first movie star of the
silent era, appears in a minor role. It is in the public domain in
the United States.
Western
