Hell's Heroes (1929) - Once Upon a Time in a Western

Three bandits approaching the town of New Jerusalem come across a noose placed as a warning that it’s “a bad town for bad men.”

“Wild Bill” Kearney, “Barbwire” Tom Gibbons and Jose are undettered. They even joke about the noose.

After all, their partner Bob Sangster (Charles Bickford) has been checking out the town for days.

Surely, he would have tipped them off it the bank there wasn’t ripe for taking.

Well, they successfully rob the bank, killing a bank clerk in the process.

But their luck runs out during the getaway. Jose is shot and killed. “Barbwire” takes a slug in his left shoulder.

And they run smack dad into a dust storm so bad that they have to take cover and awake the next morning to find their horses gone.

So they stagger through the desert, taking comfort in he fact that they aren’t too far from the reliable water hole at Terrapin Tanks.

Only Terrapin Tanks turns out to be dry. Nearby is a wagon, holding a woman about to give birth.

She has a healthy baby son, but clearly won’t survive. But before dying, she gets the three men to agree to be the child’s godfathers.

“Barbwire” and “Wild Bill” also agree to take the baby back to New Jerusalem.

Bob Sangster doesn’t think that’s such a good idea, partly because it was the baby’s father the gang killed while robbing the bank.

Charles Bickford as Bob Sangster, trying to bar his partners from seeing what’s inside the wagon in Hell’s Heroes (1929)

Fred Kohler as ‘Wild Bill’ Kearney, deterrmined to keep his promise to a dying woman in Hell’s Heroes (1929)

Review:

This marked the first sound film based on the novel “The Three Godfathers” and features impressive camera work for its time and a strong lead performance by Charles Bickford.

And unlike John Ford’s 1948 “3 Godfathers,” starring John Wayne, this version also benefits from the decision not to foist a sappy ending onto a mostly tragic tale.

This was also the first sound film for director William Wyler, who had been churning out silent Westerns for Universal Studios since the mid 1920s.

He’d, of course, go on to direct a number of classic films, including “Roman Holiday” and “Ben-Hur,” plus three highly regarded Westerns — “The Westerner” (1940), “Friendly Persuasion” (1956) and “The Big Country” (1958).

Raymond Hatton as ‘Barbwire’ Tom Gibbons, checking out the noose on the way to New Jerusalem in Hell’s Heroes (1929)

Jo De La Cruz as Jose, one of the bank robbers, studying the warning sign outside town in Hell’s Heroes (1929)

Directed by:
William Wyler

Cast:
Charles Bickford … Bob Sangster
Raymond Hatton … ‘Barbwire’ Tom Gibbons
Fred Kohler … ‘Wild Bill’ Kearney
Fritzi Ridgeway … The Mother
Jo De La Cruz … Jose
Walter James … Sheriff
Maria Alba … Carmelita
Buck Connors …. Parson Jones
Edward Hearn … Frank Edwards

Runtime: 68 min.

Maria Alba as Carmelita, stashing away the coins she earned dancing at the New Jerusalem saloon in Hell’s Heroes (1929)

Walter James as the New Jerusalem sheriff, trying to sneak a peek at more of Carmelita during her dance in Hell’s Heroes (1929)

Memorable lines:

“Barbwire” Tom Gibbons, about the noose warning bad men to stay away from New Jerusalem: “Looks just about your size, Bill.”

Bob Sangster, who’s buying drinks for the house at the New Jerusalem saloon: “Hey, sheriff, ain’t you drinkin’.”
Sheriff: “I’m mighty particular about who I drink with.”
Sangster: “Well, I ain’t. Else I wouldn’t have invited you.”

“Barbwire” Tom Gibbons to the bank clerks: “Start reaching for heaven, stranger. Or you’re headed straight for hell.”

“Barbwire” Tom Gibbons, as the gang runs low on water: “And the Lord said unto Moses, ‘Take with thee thy rod. And thou shall smite the rock, and the water shall come out of it.'”
Bob Sangster, as Tom prepares to start smiting: “Sit down. Your whispers ain’t long enough for that.”

“Wild Bill” Kearney, when Bob Sangster offers grease from the wagon wheel: “Get out. This baby’s goin’ through life slippery enough with us for his godfathers.”