Watch Hell Fire Austin

Hell Fire Austin is a 1932 Western movie starring Ken Maynard as the titular character, Austin, a cowboy and former outlaw who tries to leave behind his troubled past and become a law-abiding citizen. However, his past catches up with him when a gang of outlaws, led by Ace Barlow (Nat Pendleton), discovers that Austin has hidden a treasure stolen from them years ago. They come back to town to seek revenge and retrieve their loot, but Austin is determined to protect his new life and the woman he loves, Lucy Blake (Ivy Merton), even if it means facing his demons.

The plot of Hell Fire Austin is a classic Western tale of redemption, revenge, and romance, with plenty of shootouts, horse chases, and fistfights to keep the audience entertained. The movie starts with a flashback sequence that shows Austin and his former gang robbing a train and stealing a box of gold. Austin double-crosses his partners and takes the gold for himself, but he is shot and left for dead by Barlow, who also takes the fall for the robbery. Austin survives and makes his way to a small Western town, where he starts working as a cowboy and falls in love with Lucy, the daughter of the local banker.

However, Barlow and his gang track Austin down and demand that he returns the stolen gold. Austin denies having it, but Barlow doesn't believe him and starts terrorizing the town to force him to confess. Austin tries to avoid violence, but he is forced to defend himself and his loved ones when Barlow's men kidnap Lucy and threaten to kill her if Austin doesn't show up with the gold. The movie builds up to a final showdown between Austin and Barlow, in which the two former partners face each other for the last time.

The performance of Ken Maynard as Austin is one of the highlights of the movie. Maynard was a popular Western star of the 1920s and 1930s, known for his cowboy skills, his athleticism, and his good looks. In Hell Fire Austin, he embodies the archetype of the rugged, independent cowboy who tries to redeem himself from his criminal past by doing the right thing. Maynard's acting is subtle and understated, but he conveys the emotions of his character through his body language and his gaze. He also performs his own stunts, which include riding a horse through a burning barn and jumping off a cliff onto a river.

Ivy Merton as Lucy Blake provides the romantic interest of the movie, but she is also a strong character in her own right, with a fierce spirit and a quick wit. Merton was a less known actress than Maynard, but she holds her own in the scenes where she stands up to Barlow or supports Austin. Nat Pendleton as Barlow is the villain of the piece, a ruthless and cunning outlaw who wants revenge and money at all costs. Pendleton had a successful career as a character actor in Hollywood, often playing tough guys or comic relief in movies like The Thin Man or Buck Privates. His portrayal of Barlow is notable for its physicality and its humor, as he often mocks his own henchmen or Austin.

The direction of Hell Fire Austin is credited to Forrest Sheldon, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Adele Buffington. Sheldon was a prolific B-movie director of the 1920s and 1930s, specializing in Westerns, adventure films, and serials. His style in Hell Fire Austin is not particularly innovative, but it is efficient and dynamic. He uses the landscape of the Western setting to create a sense of space and movement, and he keeps the action scenes clear and engaging. The cinematography by Harry Neumann is also noteworthy, as it captures the stark beauty of the desert and the mountains with a sharp eye for composition and contrast.

Overall, Hell Fire Austin is a solid example of a 1930s Western movie, with a good balance of action, romance, and drama. It may not be a masterpiece of the genre, but it delivers what it promises, which is a fun and entertaining story of a cowboy who fights for his redemption and his love. The movie has some outdated elements, such as the portrayal of Native Americans as stereotypical savages or the casual use of violence, but it also has some timeless themes, such as the importance of honor, loyalty, and self-sacrifice. Hell Fire Austin may not be remembered as one of the greatest Westerns of all time, but it is certainly worth watching for fans of the genre or of Ken Maynard's cowboy charm.

Hell Fire Austin is a 1932 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 5 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3.