BLUE STEEL (1934) John Wayne, Eleanor Hunt & George 'Gabby' Hayes | Western | B&W

Blue Steel is a 1934 American pre-Code Monogram Western film directed by Robert N. Bradbury and starring John Wayne. Wayne plays a U.S. Marshal who is trying to capture the Polka Dot Bandit, who has taken off with $4,000. The film also featured Yakima Canutt and George "Gabby" Hayes.

SYNOPSIS
U.S. marshal John Carruthers observes a robbery and Sheriff Jake thinks he may be the culprit. Meanwhile the town's leading citizen is planning to rob everybody blind.

John Carruthers is an undercover US Marshal. He appears to be in town investigating a string of robberies committed by the Polka Dot Bandit, but when he is a little late in discovering one of the Bandit's thefts, Sheriff Jake thinks Carruthers is the thief. For some reason, instead of arresting him, Jake accompanies him on his journey; after all, as Carruthers says, "It's kind of lonesome trailing alone."

The two stumble upon a gang robbing a pack-mule train; they rescue Betty Mason, whose father has just been killed by the bandits. She and her father were bringing desperately needed provisions to town, but the bandits have successfully cut off any supplies, forcing the townspeople to consider fleeing their homes or starving to death.

It turns out that the local rich man, Malgrove, is behind the robberies. He knows there's a vein of gold underneath the homesteaders' property, and he offers out of the kindness of his heart to purchase their land for a pittance. When the grieving Betty overhears his plans, Malgrove and his henchmen kidnap her.

CAST & CREW
John Wayne as John Carruthers
Eleanor Hunt as Betty Mason
George "Gabby" Hayes as Sheriff Jake Withers
Edward Peil as Malgrove
Yakima Canutt as Danti, the Polka Dot Bandit
Lafe McKee as Dan Mason
George Cleveland as Hank, innkeeper
Earl Dwire as Henchman
Chris Allen as Townsman
Silver Tip Baker as Townsman
Barney Beasley as Townsman
Hank Bell as Stage Driver with Payroll
Ralph Bucko as Townsman
Horace B. Carpenter as Townsman
Lane Chandler as Townsman
Jack Evans as Townsman
Herman Hack as Henchman
Henry Hall as Townsman
Theodore Lorch as Townsman
Bud McClure as Townsman
Art Mix as Townsman
Perry Murdock as Henchman
George Nash as The Bridegroom
Herman Nowlin as Townsman
Artie Ortego as Henchman
Tex Phelps as Henchman

Directed by Robert N. Bradbury
Written by Robert N. Bradbury
Produced by Paul Malvern
Cinematography Archie Stout
Distributed by Monogram Pictures, Genius Entertainment
Release date May 10, 1934
Running time 54 minutes
Country United States
Language English