AllMovie

As a stage play, The Bad Man was a success because of its hilarious and colorful dialogue. That was lost when it was made into a film, and the subtitles didn't quite make up for it. However, Holbrook Blinn reprised the role he played on stage, Manuel Lopez (a take on Pancho Villa), and his characterization is definitely a standout. Because his cattle are regularly being rustled, rancher Gilbert Jones (Jack Mulhall) cannot meet his growing debts. One day his former sweetheart (Enid Bennett), who had married another, shows up. So does Lopez, the bandit responsible for all of Jones' misfortune. Lopez is about to completely clean out Jones -- and take his girl -- when he recognizes the hapless rancher. A couple of years before, Jones had saved Lopez's life. The bandit insists that he will take care of Jones, and he does. He puts Jones' affairs in order, proves the villainy of the girl's husband, Morgan Pell (Walter McGrail), and then kills him. Finally, he gives back all the cattle he stole. He also lends Jones enough money to start over before riding off into the sunset.