Edgar Allan Pooh . . . but when Tim McCoy's "Tim Clark" looks for his, he finds a gold mine instead. Unfortunately, McCoy has zero charisma, apparently graduating from the Narcoleptic School of Acting. Alice Day, as Tim's girl "Betty," is even worse. Though TWO-FISTED LAW gives John Wayne second billing, there are at least 10 other roles more important than the light-lifting done by his ranch hand "Duke" (and with more lines). Among these is Walter Brennan's crooked deputy Bendix (but every Western fan knows that Brennan's dentures have more acting ability Mr. Tiptoes ever possessed, as well as better line readings). Other than those cast short-comings, the most that can be said of TWO-FISTED LAW is that it simply follows along in the deep ruts cut by all the low-budget Horse Operas of the 1930s Great Depression years. This message is that most if not all Rich People make their fortunes by duping employees into committing robbery, mayhem, and murder at their bidding, and then throwing them under the stagecoach at the first hint of trouble. (Though wealthy Crimelord "Robert Russell" gets some just desserts here, in Real Life the Rich become Red State icons with names such as Koch. (THINGS go better with Koch--NOT people!)

Michael_Elliott Two-Fisted Law (1932) ** (out of 4)Standard "B" Western of its era has Tim McCoy playing a man named Tim who has his family ranch stolen from him by the crooked Bob Russell (Wheeler Oakman).TWO-FISTED LAW is pretty much like every other "B" Western that was made around this era. It's pretty amazing how many films would deal with a person shot in the back and the wrong person being arrested or some crooked deal that causes someone to lose a ranch. This film here, like most of them, is mildly entertaining but there's no doubt that if you're wanting a classic this here isn't that.If you're a fan of McCoy then you'll find him charming here as he plays it pretty straight like normal. I would be lying if I said he was one of my favorite cowboy stars from this era but he's at least mildly entertaining. Once again John Wayne and Walter Brennan are here together, although neither one makes that much of an impact. TWO-FISTED LAW has the typical shoot-outs and chases but there's nothing here that separates it from all the rest.

bkoganbing Though in the film John Wayne is second billed to star Tim McCoy he actually has very little to do. Wayne is in the unaccustomed role of sidekick. Wayne and Wallace MacDonald are the last two ranch hands working for Tim McCoy. He's lost is ranch to crooked banker Wheeler Oakman, but being the good boss and friend he is to Wayne and MacDonald he finds them jobs with neighbor and sweetheart Alice Day.That might be short term employment for Oakman has designs on the ranch and on Day. Those designs on Day ain't covered by the cowboy code. McCoy goes off prospecting for a couple of years and no sooner is he back than he's framed for an express company holdup and killing resulting from same. The rest of the movie is McCoy's fight to prove his innocence and save Day from a fate worse than death.Wheeler Oakman seems to be enjoying his role as villain, he's hamming it up in the best Snidely Whiplash tradition. And Day makes a perfect Little Nell.Tim McCoy, a silent western star, seems to have made the transition to sound easily enough. He's a stern and upright hero who's bound and determined prove his innocence.Note good performances by Tully Marshall as the father figure sheriff of the area who believes in McCoy and a young Walter Brennan as his less than scrupulous deputy.My VHS of this film is 58 minutes and I note that the running time is 64 minutes. That might explain some gaps in the story and maybe it was John Wayne who got cut out. This was the last Columbia movie that John Wayne ever appeared in. It seems as though Harry Cohn thought Wayne was putting the moves on a young starlet who rejected Cohn's advances even though Wayne wasn't involved. But after the Duke became a star and a legend, there wasn't enough money in the world that would get him to appear in a Columbia Studios film.But realizing this is a B western, it's not the worst one I've ever seen although somehow I doubt we'll ever see a director's cut.

Single-Black-Male In 1932, the 25 year old John Wayne went down poverty row with the independent production companies. In this film, he developed his fist fight scenarios, adding a bit of humour to his acting as well as drawing out his romantic side.