Beau Bandit

Beau Bandit
Beau Bandit (1930) - 1SH Movie Poster Theatrical poster for film
Directed by	Lambert Hillyer
Produced by	William Le Baron
Screenplay by	Wallace Smith
Based on	Based on the short story, Strictly Business by Wallace Smith
Starring	Rod La Rocque Mitchell Lewis Doris Kenyon Walter Long
Cinematography	Jack MacKenzie
Edited by	Archie F. Marshek
Production company	RKO Radio Pictures
Release dates	March 2, 1930 (1930-03-02) (US)
Running time	71 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Beau Bandit is a 1930 American western film, directed by Lambert Hillyer, from a screenplay by Wallace Smith, based on his short story, Strictly Business. It starred Rod La Rocque, Mitchell Lewis, Doris Kenyon, and Walter Long. The story is based loosely on the legend of Robin Hood.

Plot

Montero is a bandit who, along with his deaf-mute sidekick, Coloso, are planning to rob a bank. They are pursued by "Bob Cat" Manners and his posse. As they close in on the bank, owned by Perkins, Montero becomes involved in the personal affairs of Helen Wardell and her fiancé, Howard. Perkins is also interested in Wardell, and he also holds the mortgage on Howard's ranch. Finding out that Montero has a price on his head, Perkins uses that fact to coerce Montero into agreeing to kill Howard. Perkins, however, has no intention of paying Montero, instead arranging for the posse to capture the outlaw.

Montero fakes Howard's murder, and is expecting a double-cross, so he is prepared for the trap, and instead of being captured, he traps the posse. Montero then holds Perkins hostage, extorting $5,000 from him in exchange for his life, and forces Perkins, who is also Justice of the Peace, to marry Helen and Howard. Adding insult to injury, Montero gives the newlyweds the $5,000 for their honeymoon.

Cast

• Rod La Rocque as Montero
• Mitchell Lewis as Coloso
• Doris Kenyon as Helen Wardell
• Walter Long as "Bob Cat" Manners
• Charles Middleton as Perkins
• George Duryea as Howard
• James Donlan as Buck
• Charles Brinley as Slim
• Barney Furey as Logan
• Bill Patton as Texas

Reception

Lobby card for the film.

While being generally favorable to the acting in the film, NY Times critic, Mordaunt Hall, gave the film a lukewarm review, laying most of the issues in the screenplay by Smith. Motion Picture magazine gave the film a favorable review, calling it "delightful", and being particularly impressed with the script. While Motion Picture News called the film just "so-so", and gave La Rocque's performance a very negative review. However, they complimented Doris Kenyon and Mitchell Lewis' performances, as well as Harry Tierney's song, "Just a Little Kiss".

Notes

Smith's short story appeared in the April 1929 edition of Hearst's International-Cosmopolitan.

George Duryea would become better known by his name Tom Keene, who was a B movie star in later years; he would also use the name Richard Powers.

Originally titled Strictly Business, RKO changed the name to Beau Bandit in January 1930.