The Calgary Stampede

Directed rather incongruously by British-born Herbert Blach?, the former husband of French film pioneer Alice Guy Blach?), this "Universal-Jewel" presentation starred Hoot Gibson as the champion roman rider of the United States. Despite the impressive title, Gibson is not perceived as proper marriage material by Virginia Brown Faire's stern Canadian father, Clark Comstock, who prefers slick Philo McCullough. When Comstock is murdered, Gibson is blamed and must use all of his cunning to catch the real culprit, poacher Jim Corey. In between all the melodrama, Gibson wins the big race and a purse big enough to pay Faire's mortgage. As always, Gibson, whose real-life rodeo credentials were impeccable, used humor and a beguiling naivet? rather than brute force to bring the villains to justice.