Tall In The Saddle (1944)

As Wayne Westerns go, this RKO picture is a bit upscale from the fare at Republic, if also less robust. Edwin L. Marin’s direction is undistinguished, but the RKO craftsmanship is handsome as usual, and it must have been nice to work from a coherent screenplay for a change. Gabby Hayes is around to discuss sexual politics with Duke. For some reason the veteran character actor Frank Puglia goes uncredited as Raines’s enigmatic servant, who seems to have wandered in from a Val Lewton production.

 John Wayne, Ella Raines, Ward Bond, Gabby Hayes, Audrey Long

1944, B&W, 87 minutes