Pete Marlan is a gambler with an unsavory past. Suspected of being an outlaw, Pete plays along with this misconception, the better to infiltrate a gang of smugglers. Along the way, he clears the name of the brother of Texas Ranger Mike Donovan, and helps patch up the romance between Donovan and heroine Bernice.
Acting
Harry Carey's weathered face does 80% of the emotional lifting
Editing
61-minute runtime that somehow fits a love triangle AND smuggling ring
Director
William Nigh
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Pre-Code Hollywood let protagonists be genuinely sketchy—Pete's casual deception would've been softened post-1934.
Harry Carey was John Wayne's mentor; this role's weary pragmatism directly influenced the Duke's early persona.
US
