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Trust Weighted
Good
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66Trust Points
Wick's Review
Summary - Good 3.0
In Old California is a simpleminded recreation of Old Sacramento in 1848 and then 1849, made in 1942. A quasi-historical tale, it mostly exists to showcase John Wayne looking quite-the-dandy, from Boston even. The settings are the thing now: pre-49er San Francisco and then up the river to Old Sacramento.
Unfortunately, it hasn’t aged well: slapstick, targeted at a teenage sensibility, damn near B Movie form.
Yet, the Duke cornering the Sacramento drug trade – just as the California Gold Rush hits – is worth a view.
Acting - Good 3.0
John Wayne is a dandy from Boston, name of Tom Craig. People call him Boston. It’s that kind of movie. He’s a druggist who travels with laudanum, but he’s John Wayne, so it’s all on the up and up.
Wayne delivers a lively performance that is unfailingly cheerful, oddly cheerful even.
His 1942 supporting cast went on to more supporting roles. Not a star among them, other than perhaps Edgar Kennedy, who is damn near wasted, notwithstanding playing a character named Kegs McKeever.
Male Stars - Great 4.0
Female Stars - OK 2.5
Female Costars - OK 2.5
Male Costars - OK 2.5
Film - Good 3.0
Direction - Very Good 3.5
Dialogue - Barely OK 2.0
Music - Good 3.0
Visuals - Great 4.0
Edge - Risqué 1.6
Movies weren’t edgy in 1940, especially matinee movies like In Old California.
Sex Innocent 1.5
Violence Fierce 1.6
Rudeness Salty 1.6
Reality - Surreal 2.4
Silly Surrealism