''Vanishing Men'' is a 1932 American

western film The Western is a film genre defined by the American Film Institute as films which are "set in the American West that mbodythe spirit, the struggle, and the demise of the new frontier." Generally set in the American frontier between the Calif ...

directed by

Harry L. Fraser Harry L. Fraser (31 March 1889 – 8 April 1974) was an American film director and screenplay writer. Biography Born in 1889 in San Francisco, Fraser directed over 80 films between 1925 and 1951, including the 1934 John Wayne film '' Randy Rides ...

and starring

Tom Tyler Tom Tyler (August 9, 1903 – May 1, 1954) was an American actor known for his leading roles in low-budget Western films, and for his portrayal of superheroes in movie serials ''The Adventures of Captain Marvel'' and ''The Phantom''. Tyler als ...

, Adele Lacy, and

Raymond Keane Raymond Keane, born Raymond Kortz, (1906–1973) was an American actor during the silent film era. He was tall and striking. He was the son of jeweler Harry Kortz. He died in Los Angeles. Selected filmography * '' The Midnight Sun'' (1926) * ''A ...

. The film depicts the story of Russ Whitely (Keane), a young man who has become involved with cattle rustling, his complicated relationship with Sheriff Doug Barrett (Tyler), and his eventual redemption. Critical reception to the film was mixed, and it is now believed to be a

lost film A lost film is a feature film, feature or short film in which the original negative or copies are not known to exist in any studio archive, private collection, or public archive. Films can be wholly or partially lost for a number of reasons. ...

Plot

Russ Whitely has become involved in Heck Claiborne's cattle rustling. Facing arrest by Sheriff Doug Barrett, Claiborne's associate Luke Grimes shoots and kills O'Hara, the sheriff's deputy. Barrett asks Diane Melville to help influence Whitely to abandon his criminal connections, and hires gunslinger Bat Morrison as his new deputy. Morrison kills Grimes when he resists arrest. Claiborne informs Whitely of a plan to ambush and kill Barrett, but Whitely warns the sheriff. Unable to arrest the man who saved his life, Barrett resigns, and the new sheriff, Baker, tells Morrison to stop the rustlers. Morrison arrests Whitely, but Claiborne's gang meets them at the jail. Morrison shoots Whitely, and is killed in turn by Barrett. Baker arrests Claiborne and his gang, except the injured Whitely, who is allowed to return to his ranch and begin a new life.

Cast

as Sheriff Doug Barrett * Adele Lacy as Diane Melville *

as Russ Whitely *

William L. Thorne William L. Thorne (October 14, 1878 in Fresno, California – March 10, 1948 in Fresno, California) was an American film actor. On Broadway, Thorne appeared in ''The Tavern'' (1921) and ''Big Boy'' (1925). Partial filmography * ''The Ki ...

as Bat Morrison * John Elliott as Heck Claiborne *Robert Seiter as O'Hara * Charles King as Butch Grimes * James A. Marcus as Baker *

Dick Dickinson Dick Dickinson (September 16, 1895 – July 27, 1956) was an American stunt performer and actor. He appeared in more than 90 films between 1920 and 1954. Approximately three months before his death, an article in ''The Pittsburgh Press'' du ...

as Luke Grimes ''Hollywood Filmograph'' remarked on Raymond Keane's return to film acting after an absence of over a year. Vanishing Men one sheet

Production

In 1931, the newly formed

Monogram Pictures Monogram Pictures Corporation was an American film studio that produced mostly low-budget films between 1931 and 1953, when the firm completed a transition to the name Allied Artists Pictures Corporation. Monogram was among the smaller studios i ...

announced the titles of its first 28 films, to be produced and released over the following year, including eight

Westerns The Western is a genre of fiction typically set in the American frontier (commonly referred to as the "Old West" or the "Wild West") between the California Gold Rush of 1849 and the closing of the frontier in 1890, and commonly associated wit ...

starring

. ''Vanishing Men'' was released in the United States on April 15, 1932, and in the UK on June 3. In 1937, the film was re-released by

Astor Pictures Astor Pictures was a film distribution, motion picture distribution company in the United States from 1930 to 1963. It was founded by Robert M. Savini (29 August 1886 – 29 April 1956). Astor specialized in film re-releases. It later release ...

Reception and legacy

Critical reception of the film was mixed. Writing for the ''

Motion Picture Herald The ''Motion Picture Herald'' (MPH) was an American film industry trade paper first published as the ''Exhibitors Herald'' in 1915, and MPH from 1931 to December 1972.Anthony Slide, ed. (1985)''International Film, Radio, and Television Journals ...

'', Rita McGoldrick did not regard the film positively, and considered it most suited for an adult audience. The Los Angeles branch of the

American Association of University Women The American Association of University Women (AAUW), officially founded in 1881, is a non-profit organization that advances Justice, equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research. The organization has a nationwide Social net ...

wrote that the film offered "stilted" dialogue and "average entertainment value", but that its moral theme made it suitable for children as young as eight years old. Despite this initially mixed reception, ''

The Film Daily ''The Film Daily'' was a daily publication that existed from 1918 to 1970 in the United States. It was the first daily newspaper published solely for the film industry. It covered the latest trade news, film reviews, financial updates, informati ...

s 1939 examination of the industry listed ''Vanishing Men'' as one of the Monogram films that "excited the admiration of followers" of the Western genre. As with many of Monogram's films, ''Vanishing Men'' is believed to be lost.

Notes

References

Bibliography

External links

*{{IMDb title, 0023651 American black-and-white films English-language Western (genre) films 1932 Western (genre) films 1932 films Lost American Western (genre) films Monogram Pictures films 1932 lost films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films