Great visuals, story delivers no surprises

brilliant actors, brilliant editing

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Hoot Gibson (Reasonin' Bates), Mary Doran (Mary Shea), James Eagles (Eddie Shea), Walter McGrail (Grant), John Elliott (Dan Caswell), Ralph Lewis (sheriff), Eddie Lee (Ling Fong), Kitty McHugh (Della, the maid), Horace B. Carpenter (Joe Jackson), Slim Whitaker, Goober Glenn, Bill Hickey, Jim Corey, Ed "Pardner" Jones, George Sowards, Lem Sowards, Freddie Gilman, Bill Gillis (themselves), Fred Humes (Teddy Dove).Director: RAY McCAREY. Story and continuity: Paul Schofield. Photography: Gilbert Warrenton. Film editor: Ralph Dietrich. Music director: Abe Meyer. Production manager: Leon D'Usseau. Assistant director: George Sherman. Sound recording: Hal Bumbaugh. Copyright 15 March 1935 by First Division Productions, Inc. No recorded New York opening. U.S. release: 3 April 1935. 6 reels. 60 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Two cowpokes have saved up almost enough money to buy the ranch at which they work, when a new owner suddenly arrives from the east. A female to boot!COMMENT: Starts off slowly but soon develops into a rather charming comedy/romance with a slap-up chase climax. Deftly shot on location by director Ray McCarey (brother of Leo), this little western has much to recommend it, not least the attractive performances rendered by almost the entire cast, led by Hoot Gibson, Mary Doran and John Elliott.

Hoot Gibson and John Elliott want to buy the Sunset Range ranch, and are disappointed when they find out it's been sold to an Easterner. Hoot is even more disappointed when the new owner turns out to be Mary Doran, who wants him to dress like a movie cowboy, but some loaded dice settle that matter, and the good humor of both is on the point of sealing any rifts. However, it turns out that Miss Doran's brother has been dealing with some bank robbers, who have put stolen bonds in her luggage. When they show up, shoot the brother and kidnap the girl, it's up to Hoot and the ranch hands to settle the matter.This is a fine Hoot Gibson movie, directed by Leo MacCarey's under-rated brother, Ray. It shows off Hoot's sly good humor, and AD George Sherman, a couple of years before he began to take the director's chair, directs the action and stunt sequences very well. A clear winner for Hoot's fans.

In the 1930s, 40s and 50s, a bazillion different B-series westerns were made starring the likes of Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, John Wayne and Hoppalong Cassidy. Some of these films were pretty weird, as very little effort was made to make them period pieces. So, you might see Gene Autry or Hoot Gibson on the telephone, chasing men in a car or truck while they are on horseback or using the latest electrical devices! These anachronisms were not in most of these films but they were pretty common. Because "Sunset Range" is one of these very anachronistic films, it is strange to watch. After all, many of the characters dress in contemporary 1930s garb and the rest dress like traditional cowboys. But, weird as this aspect is of the film, the plot is light and engaging and worth seeing.A group of cowboys are horrified to hear that their ranch where they work has been bought by someone back east. When this mystery owner arrives, he turns out to be a she--and most of the men are thrilled to meet her. But one of them (Hoot) isn't and has a hard time accepting a lady boss. However, she likes him and he likes her--so what are they to do? See this film and find out--but I am pretty sure there is no way you'll guess exactly what happens next.Inventive and worth seeing if you like B-westerns.

I'll admit I enjoyed this movie WAY more then I should have. Hoot Gibson is starting grow on me for some odd reason, it seems he wanted to be a western star without really resorting to guns to resolve feuds. In this movie, he plays a hired hand who realizes the land, Sunset Ranch, he wanted so desperately to have has been sold! To a woman to boot! So he's rather annoyed about that, but of course, being a western and all, the woman starts getting more charming by the minute. But the woman's brother who also owns the land, is a bit shady, he's in the mafia you see, and his activities spill over into the Ranch. So it's up to Hoot and his gang to do something about it! I hate to say this, but I found this to be one of the better written B westerns out there, full of funny dialogue and cute one liners, this had me from the get go, so I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for a great B western.