The Bad Man (1930 film)

Synopsis

Walter Huston plays the part of a notorious Mexican bandit. James Rennie plays as the man who once saved his life. When Rennie is unable to pay the mortgage on his ranch and is in risk of losing everything, Huston determines to help him. Sidney Blackmer, who has reason to believe that there is oil on Rennie's property, attempts to swindle Rennie and buy the property from him for a low price. Huston soon discovers that Rennie is in love with Blackmer's wife, played by Dorothy Revier, and consequently has Blackmer shot so that they can pursue their romance. Huston then robs a bank and uses the money to pay off Rennie's mortgage. Having the ranch securely in his hands, Rennie is now free to marry Revier. As Huston says goodbye to the couple, he is overtaken by the Texas Rangers and shot.

Preservation

An incomplete nitrate print of this film—8 out of 9 reels—survives in the UCLA Film and Television Archive. The entire film is in danger of being lost, however, if the film is not preserved in the near future, as the film has already begun to decompose.

Original Version and Remake

The film, based on a 1920 play, was originally filmed in 1923 with Holbrook Blinn who had originated the role in the 1920 Broadway production which ran for a whopping 342 performances. The film was remade in 1940 as The Bad Man with Wallace Beery as Pancho Lopez and a supporting cast including Lionel Barrymore, Laraine Day, and Ronald Reagan.

Foreign Language Versions

Two Foreign Language Versions of the 1930 version of The Bad Man were made. The Spanish version was titled El hombre malo while the French version was titled Lopez, le bandit.

Cast