John Wayne On Way-Back Machine

He's Singin' Sandy in Riders Of Destiny (1933)

Sinister Cinema has done John Wayne completists a service with its DVD transferred from excellent 35mm elements of this "Singin' Sandy" B done by Duke as he climbed up budget pic ladders. He'd disdain the cheapies later, but Wayne became very much a star doing them, and probably would have broken into A's even without Ford's Stagecoach assist. The opener scene is priceless, JW's desert traverse whilst warbling of "blood running in the street tonight." (sources say it was Bob Steele's twin brother, Bill, that voiced him). This was the first Wayne for Lone Star, where he'd stay till Republic rustled him. I caught a stunt man taking a leap for JW off desert rocks, but otherwise, the star does his own actioning. It's said Wayne was awkward with dialogue in these and "seems embarrassed." Was he truly? Maybe this actor waited to act until material suited him. Such was certainly done before and since by others. Anyone would have been embarrassed by Singin' Sandy, after all. There's a spike to enjoyment for 35mm sourcing: all of Lone Stars would benefit --- and bear in mind Sinister didn't monkey with the soundtrack as have others. Latter are pills impossible to sit through (I haven't got five minutes into any delivered that way). Trying to modernize Lone Stars defeats purpose of watching --- we want early Duke to date. Sinister has others of his derived from 35mm, all recommended.