Don't Believe the Hype

Better Late Then Never

The movie is surprisingly subdued in its pacing, its characterizations, and its go-for-broke sensibilities.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

Although this entry stars Harry Carey, our star doesn't play the title character. Instead, Clinton is a comedy-relief role played by Victor Potel. In fact, I don't even remember the title's ominous message – last! – being mentioned in the movie at all. Not that it matters, because The Last of the Clintons is a minor film with minor production values and minor variations on the usual familiar themes. The main innovation is that the usual big shoot-out (in which no-one of importance gets shot) occurs at the beginning rather than the end. Indeed, the actual climax is rather tame. Nevertheless, Carey breezes through the movie in his usual captivating style, despite the fact that he often seems to be playing second fiddle to lesser members of the cast, including not only Vic Potel, but Tom London as the chief villain, plus Del Gordon and Betty Mack as the young lovers caught up in London's snare. So Carey doesn't even get the girl! Yet, what's worse is that he doesn't dispose of the villain either. In fact, our number-one bad guy is the victim of what we writers call a "deus ex machina", that is an outside event over which the main players have little or no control, for example being eaten by a stray mountain lion or falling to his death when his horse rears at the sight of a snake on the edge of a precipice! These, of course, are not the events that occur in this movie, but you get the idea. It's a disappointing climax, but nevertheless, Harry Carey is always worth seeing even when – as here! – he is all but outfoxed by script, director and minor players among the rest of the cast!

"The Last of the Clintons" is one of a series of mid 30s independent oaters starring Harry Carey. The "Clinton" of the title, for what its worth is the character of Jed Clinton (Victor Potel) who is along for nothing more than sidekick comedy relief.Carey plays Trigger Carson a detective who infiltrates a gang of rustlers headed by Luke Todd (Tom London) and his chief henchman Pete (Earl Dwire). Carson is working with the town vigilante committee headed by Elkins (Charles "Slim' Whitaker). Elkins has a daughter Edith (Betty Mack) who is in love with Todd's brother Marty (Del Gordon). Carson manages to outsmart the rustlers and get the young lovers together by the end of the picture. The way in which London "gets his" at the film's climax shows a little imagination on the part of the film maker. Also of note is the fact that the usual big gunfight takes place at the beginning of the film rather than at the end.Carey was always better than his material. His maturity and air of authority raised the level of these little one hour horse operas considerably. Again, he plays a father figure who straightens out a young man about to get himself into trouble.Not bad for a poverty row quickie.