Three Word Brand

In addition to Joseph August's attractive location photography and Lambert Hillyer's observant direction, with his scrupulous attention to both the broad and the tiny details (the only item we could fault was the art director's obvious facade for the court house), I'd draw attention to Hillyer's masterful control over the actors. Hart is always on top of his game and never leaves us in doubt as to which of his roles he is playing. Jane Novak makes a most convincing yet attractive heroine while Gordon Russell and Herschel Mayall are villains to the colors born. Oddly, it's none of these – nor even the high-billed yet creditably innocuous S.J. Bingham or the beautifully skillful Collette Forbes – who walk away with the film's acting honors, but George Pearce. Admittedly, he has the most colorful role, but he plays it with the utmost finesse – no doubt helped out by the observant Hillyer. I love the scene in which Pearce is bragging how well he knows every inch of the Trego Valley and the governor, anxious to hire a reliable guide (and who is obviously stunned by the braggart's voracious vocabulary) looks towards the hotelier who is carrying his bags and standing halfway up the stairs. The hotel man keeps a poker face, but nods slightly. Very slightly! Now that's direction! Whoever said Hillyer was a routine Hollywood "B" workman had obviously never seen any of his silent work. Hillyer was one of the most astute yet sensitive directors in the field. And, in my opinion, "Three Word Brand" stands as one of his best films.