In Old Arizona

The Cisco Kid—familiar to many from films, movie serials, radio shows, and a '50s television series—is the central figure in this 1929 Western, the first outdoor “talkie” (as well as the film that caused director Raoul Walsh to lose an eye, leading him to wear a distinctive patch). But in this version—based on the 1907 O. Henry short story “The Caballero's Way” that introduced the character—the Kid is no heroic knight-errant but rather a notorious outlaw as adept with his wits as with a gun. When a cavalry officer charged with capturing him sets a trap using the Kid's spitfire mistress, Tonia (Dorothy Burgess), as bait, the Kid doesn't hesitate to sacrifice the treacherous woman in order to save himself. As Cisco, Warner Baxter won the Academy Award as Best Actor for a performance that today seems broad and stilted but certainly embodies the Kid's charisma and self-assurance. The filmmakers took pains to try to imaginatively showcase the addition of sound—including numerous musical interludes, and in one famous scene, a sizzling skillet of ham and eggs that practically obliterates the dialogue. But while there's no denying the historical importance of In Old Arizona, the creaky plot and over-the-top acting make this interesting mostly as a curio. Bowing on Blu-ray with a sparkling transfer, this is a strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek)