By the time of "Wild and Woolly", only 18 months after his debut, Douglas Fairbanks was one of Hollywood's highest paid actors, third only after Chaplin and Pickford. His films were totally escapist - not for him the poor boy making good, his characters were usually wealthy so the problem of becoming a success before he could marry the girl never arose. He was free to play the gallant (as in "A Modern Musketeer") and the message to most young men in the audience was that they too could be successful if they just faced life with a smile!! This movie had one of his favourite themes - that of the uptight city dweller who longs for the life of a cowboy, which was really just about every kid's dream in those times!!
With a photoplay by Anita Loos, photography by Victor Fleming, along with Doug, just a who's who of people at the start of their careers who were really going to make a big impact. From the start Doug's athleticism is on display: he plays Jeff, son of a railroad magnate and his bedroom is decked out like a scene from the Old West. He sleeps in a tepee, cooks his breakfast from a camp fire and even has his own saddle which he uses in his vivid daydreams of life on the open range. When the butler calls him, he ropes in the servant, displays some fancy shooting and ends up carrying him downstairs!! The only place where Jeff can feel a real part of the great outdoors is at the local cinema where the constant stream of cowboy movies keeps him entertained.
Meanwhile back at the real ranch (Bitter Creek, Arizona) trouble is brewing - a crooked Indian agent (Sam De Grasse) is selling stock stolen from the Indians, across the border to Mexico, in the meantime keeping the Natives "lickered up"!! He also has a keen eye for pretty Nell (Eileen Percy), the hotel keeper's daughter. It just so happens that Jeff's father has mining interests there and he hopes that by sending Jeff out there he will cure his western "nuttiness"!! The citizens of Bitter Creek though need his support and they hope that by putting on a Wild West welcome for him - 1880s style, things will go in their favour. They plan a fake hold up of the Arizona Express (Bull Montana is one of the cowboys) but the Indian agent and his cronies get in on the act and decide to make it real. By the end Jeff's derring do and courage under fire saves the town and wins him his Nell!!
Even though the print is murky and some of the racial stereotypes leave a lot to be desired this is a hilarious film. Eileen Percy was only 17 at the time "Wild and Woolly" was made and really found her fame through being married to songwriter Harry Ruby.
Highly Recommended.
With a photoplay by Anita Loos, photography by Victor Fleming, along with Doug, just a who's who of people at the start of their careers who were really going to make a big impact. From the start Doug's athleticism is on display: he plays Jeff, son of a railroad magnate and his bedroom is decked out like a scene from the Old West. He sleeps in a tepee, cooks his breakfast from a camp fire and even has his own saddle which he uses in his vivid daydreams of life on the open range. When the butler calls him, he ropes in the servant, displays some fancy shooting and ends up carrying him downstairs!! The only place where Jeff can feel a real part of the great outdoors is at the local cinema where the constant stream of cowboy movies keeps him entertained.
Meanwhile back at the real ranch (Bitter Creek, Arizona) trouble is brewing - a crooked Indian agent (Sam De Grasse) is selling stock stolen from the Indians, across the border to Mexico, in the meantime keeping the Natives "lickered up"!! He also has a keen eye for pretty Nell (Eileen Percy), the hotel keeper's daughter. It just so happens that Jeff's father has mining interests there and he hopes that by sending Jeff out there he will cure his western "nuttiness"!! The citizens of Bitter Creek though need his support and they hope that by putting on a Wild West welcome for him - 1880s style, things will go in their favour. They plan a fake hold up of the Arizona Express (Bull Montana is one of the cowboys) but the Indian agent and his cronies get in on the act and decide to make it real. By the end Jeff's derring do and courage under fire saves the town and wins him his Nell!!
Even though the print is murky and some of the racial stereotypes leave a lot to be desired this is a hilarious film. Eileen Percy was only 17 at the time "Wild and Woolly" was made and really found her fame through being married to songwriter Harry Ruby.
Highly Recommended.