The Wayward Wind / Patsy Cline
The Zane Grey Dilemna
For a long time I avoided doing any posts about John Wayne (not an easy thing to do on a Western Movie Blog) because I feared John would turn into a massive and daunting project. I was right. However, I figured out a way to handle it by simply doing his Western filmography one post/movie at a time. And this has been working out pretty good. UNTIL my post on Born to the West / Helltown when I accidentally opened the gate to Zane Grey’s corral – and was immediately trampled/stampeded to death. There is more stuff on Zane Grey that tumbleweeds in Texas. But I didn’t know that.
His books have been made into movies over a hundred times going all the way back to 1911 – and continue up to the present.
That’s a ton of images, artwork, film, posters, photos, etc etc.
So I’ve been stuck – mainly because there’s conflicting information about his early movies and because some of his books have been made into movies several times.
I will attempt something anyway.
Zane Grey Movies
Fighting Blood / 1911
Fighting Blood – a B&W silent film – about 13:42 long. Very few images survive from this movie.
The Heart of Texas Ryan / 1917
The Border Legion / 1918
5 versions of The Border Legion have been filmed.
It is not known whether this silent B&W version currently survives.
The Border Legion / 1924
This version of The Border Legion is lost.
Another silent version directed by William K. Howard and starring Antonio Moreno and Helene Chadwick.
The Border Legion / 1930
Even with Jack Holt and Fay Wray, AllMovie only gives this version a 1.5 out of 5.
The Border Legion / 1940
Roy tries his hand at poker.
(Until he starts singing I’m all in)
Gabby takes the stage.
I gotta tell ya that the emergence of comedy sidekicks and singing cowboys was not my favorite thing for a Western.
