AllMovie

Fabled Broadway comedian Joe Cook, who hadn't been seen on screen since 1930's Rain or Shine, essayed the title role in 1937's Arizona Mahoney. As in his earlier film, the star plays a travelling circus entrepreneur, said "circus"consisting of an elephant, a goose, and a rusty old cannon. When Arizona Mahoney's partner Randall (Robert Cummings) decides to settle in one spot -- the better to woo heroine Sue Bixby (June Martel) -- Mahoney does the same, attempting to prove his mettle as a rootin' tootin' cowpoke. His efforts are largely laughed at until, almost by accident, Mahoney manages to round up a gang of rustlers (with, of course, the help of his prize elephant). Alas, Joe Cook was quite ill during filming of Arizona Mahoney, and died not long afterward.