TO THE LAST MAN (Paramount, 1933), directed by Henry Hathaway, is one of the many western assortments produced by the studio in the 1930s taken from books of prolific western writer, Zane Grey. As much as the plot elements are taken from the Grey novel, one cannot help finding the story bearing mixes to William Shakespeare's "Romero and Juliet," John Fox's "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine," and David Belasco's play. "The Girl of the Golden West" assorted together. Starring Randolph Scott, best known for westerns, TO THE LAST MAN may either serve interest for fans of Scott, or a curiosity to scholars wanting to view this very early western featuring Shirley Temple shortly before her elevation to super stardom over for Fox Studios by late 1934.
The story begins after the end of America's Civil War in April 9, 1865. Following newspaper headlines regarding reading "General (Robert E.) Lee accepts terms of surrender at Appomattox," Mark Hayden (Egon Breacher) is introduced as a widower and soldier of the war seen returning home via coach with plans on moving out west with his family, and taking Jeff Morley (Fuzzy Knight), a drifter, with him. Prior to his arrival home, Grandpa Spelvin (Harlan E. Knight), his father-in-law, accompanied by his grandson, Lynn (Jay Ward), traveling through the wilderness, gets shot by Jed Colby (Noah Beery), who' s been feuding with the Spelvin family for years. Refusing to continue the feud, Mark arranges for the sheriff (James Burke) to arrest Colby, who is sentenced fifteen years in prison for his actions. Years later, upon his release, Colby is greeted by his mountain daughter, Ellen (Esther Ralston), who takes him to their home in Grass Valley, Kentucky, not far from the Spelvin ranch. In spite of his sentence, Colby, assisted by Jim Daggs (Jack LaRue), a former prisoner he befriended in prison earlier, intends on joining forces with him to resume his feud with the Colbys. Through the passage of time, Colby and Daggs intend to resume the feud by slowly raiding the Colby ranch, and nearly shooting at the doll belonging to Mary Stanley (Shirley Temple), Spelvin's his granddaughter. Spelvin still refuses to stir up the feud again, regardless of Colby's force of evil. Problems arise as Lynn (Randolph Scott), now grown, takes an interest in a woman, who not only happens to be Colby's daughter, but the woman Daggs intends to marry. Co-starring Larry "Buster" Crabbe (Bill Hayden); Gail Patrick (Ann Hayden Stanley); Barton MacLane (Neil Stanley); Eugenie Besserer (Granny Spelvin); Muriel Kirkland (Mary Hayden), and John Carradine and Harry Cording in smaller roles.
When sold to commercial television in the early 1950s, TO THE LAST MAN was both shortened from its original 70 minute form and retitled LAW OF VENGEANCE. Watching the restored print, compliments of the Museum of Modern Art film department in New York City, during its Turner Classic Movies cable channel premiere dated May 22, 2016, TO THE LAST MAN consisted of some elements not commonly found in motion pictures - introducing the actors and their roles through name titles in the order of appearance, from Egon Breacher (first intro) to Randolph Scott (23 minutes into the start of the story), making this the longest cast introduction on screen. Interestingly, the character introduction ends with Scott, leaving the children, played by Shirley Temple and Delmar Watson, who appear later, left uncredited. With the Zane Grey story previously produced by Paramount (1923) starring Richard Dix, it also has the distinction in having Noah Beery playing the same villainous role in both silent and sound versions.
The pace is good, cast impressive, with some intense action scenes to make this rarely screened western worth viewing, even when having to wait a good 35 minutes before little five-year-old Shirley Temple makes her first screen appearance, watching the youthful presence of both Randolph Scott and Buster Crabbe , or simply wanting to see how the story goes to the last man. (**1/2)
The story begins after the end of America's Civil War in April 9, 1865. Following newspaper headlines regarding reading "General (Robert E.) Lee accepts terms of surrender at Appomattox," Mark Hayden (Egon Breacher) is introduced as a widower and soldier of the war seen returning home via coach with plans on moving out west with his family, and taking Jeff Morley (Fuzzy Knight), a drifter, with him. Prior to his arrival home, Grandpa Spelvin (Harlan E. Knight), his father-in-law, accompanied by his grandson, Lynn (Jay Ward), traveling through the wilderness, gets shot by Jed Colby (Noah Beery), who' s been feuding with the Spelvin family for years. Refusing to continue the feud, Mark arranges for the sheriff (James Burke) to arrest Colby, who is sentenced fifteen years in prison for his actions. Years later, upon his release, Colby is greeted by his mountain daughter, Ellen (Esther Ralston), who takes him to their home in Grass Valley, Kentucky, not far from the Spelvin ranch. In spite of his sentence, Colby, assisted by Jim Daggs (Jack LaRue), a former prisoner he befriended in prison earlier, intends on joining forces with him to resume his feud with the Colbys. Through the passage of time, Colby and Daggs intend to resume the feud by slowly raiding the Colby ranch, and nearly shooting at the doll belonging to Mary Stanley (Shirley Temple), Spelvin's his granddaughter. Spelvin still refuses to stir up the feud again, regardless of Colby's force of evil. Problems arise as Lynn (Randolph Scott), now grown, takes an interest in a woman, who not only happens to be Colby's daughter, but the woman Daggs intends to marry. Co-starring Larry "Buster" Crabbe (Bill Hayden); Gail Patrick (Ann Hayden Stanley); Barton MacLane (Neil Stanley); Eugenie Besserer (Granny Spelvin); Muriel Kirkland (Mary Hayden), and John Carradine and Harry Cording in smaller roles.
When sold to commercial television in the early 1950s, TO THE LAST MAN was both shortened from its original 70 minute form and retitled LAW OF VENGEANCE. Watching the restored print, compliments of the Museum of Modern Art film department in New York City, during its Turner Classic Movies cable channel premiere dated May 22, 2016, TO THE LAST MAN consisted of some elements not commonly found in motion pictures - introducing the actors and their roles through name titles in the order of appearance, from Egon Breacher (first intro) to Randolph Scott (23 minutes into the start of the story), making this the longest cast introduction on screen. Interestingly, the character introduction ends with Scott, leaving the children, played by Shirley Temple and Delmar Watson, who appear later, left uncredited. With the Zane Grey story previously produced by Paramount (1923) starring Richard Dix, it also has the distinction in having Noah Beery playing the same villainous role in both silent and sound versions.
The pace is good, cast impressive, with some intense action scenes to make this rarely screened western worth viewing, even when having to wait a good 35 minutes before little five-year-old Shirley Temple makes her first screen appearance, watching the youthful presence of both Randolph Scott and Buster Crabbe , or simply wanting to see how the story goes to the last man. (**1/2)