(1937)
2.5
Hans J. Wollstein
Director Nate Watt's forte was perhaps more character delineation than sheer action, and Borderland is one of the best-performed B-Westerns of the 1930s. Kudos should especially go to Stephen Morris (later known as Morris Ankrum), whose Wolf is one of the era's more demonical villains. Of course, praise must also go to William Boyd himself, here showing a totally different side of his talents even if it is all just a cover. Although rather lethargic in places, Borderland finishes in a crescendo of excitement as a wounded Hoppy desperately attempts to keep Wolf at bay, a climax aided immeasurably by Lee Zahler's rousing score. The film marked the end of the series trail for James Ellison, whose impetuous young sidekick would henceforth be played by former production manager Pace Lucid, renamed Russell Hayden for the occasion.
Borderland on AllMovie
Borderland (1937)