In Old Arizona (1928)

Warner Baxter plays The Cisco Kid, a bandit with a $5,000 price on his head and a heart that belongs to only one girl, Tonia Maria (Dorothy Burgess).

So he lavishes her with gifts each time he returns from one of his adventures.

Unfortunately for Cisco, Tonia isn’t so particular about her choice of men.

She rushes one man out of her home when she spots Cisco approaching from his most recent escapade.

And when Cisco hears that the U.S. Cavalry might be on his trail and sends her to town to get information, she winds up flirting with, then seducing Sgt. Mickey Dunn (Edmund Lowe).

Then she learns about Dunn’s mission: to capture Cisco. And about that $5,000 reward.

Does it change Tonia’s mind? Not in the least.

Because if Tonia loves anything more than men, it’s the presents and the money they bring her.

Warner Baxter as The Cisco Kid, selling his stolen cattle and hoping for a quick reunion with Tonia Maria In Old Arizona (1928)

Dorothy Burgess as Tonia Maria, convinced she can capture the heart of any man she wants In Old Arizona (1928)

Review:

Short on action, long on purple prose for dialogue, the film is more interesting for its history than its story. It was, after all, the first sound Western. And it introduced music to the Western. (“My Tonia” was a big hit for Nic Lucas).

It also earned Baxter a Best Actor Oscar. And he wasn’t even supposed to play the lead.

Raoul Walsh was to direct and star in the film. But while scouting locations, a jackrabbit hopped through the windshield of his car, causing an accident that cost him an eye.

The incident ended his acting career. But, of course, not his directing career.

Edmund Lowe as Sgt. Mickey Dunn, meeting flirtatious Tonia Maria in In Old Arizona (1928)

Soledad Jimenez as the cook, eavesdropping on Tonia Maria’s gold-digging ways In Old Arizona (1928)

Directed by:
Irving Cummings
Raoul Walsh

Cast:
Warner Baxter … The Cisco Kid
Edmund Lowe … Sgt. Mickey Dunn
Dorothy Burgess … Tonia Maria
Soledad Jimenez … Tonita the cook
Henry Armetta … Barber
James Bradbury Jr. … Soldier
John Dillon … Second soldier

Runtime: 95 min.

Dorothy Burgess as Tonia Maria, jealous because The Cisco Kid (Warner Baxter) smells so good after a trip to the barbershop In Old Arizona (1928)

Dorothy Burgess as Tonia Maria and Edmund Lowe as Sgt. Mickey Dunn hatching a scheme In Old Arizona (1928)

Memorable line:

Cisco Kid to his horse, after coming upon a reward poster: “Five thousands dollars for my head, huh? Never … This gun is liable to bark many, many times, but he is the best friend I got. Ah, next to you, my friend. Let’s go to work.”

Colonel to Sgt. Dunn, assigning him the mission of stopping The Cisco Kid: “Don’t get the idea this is any picnic. This is not the usual kind of cattle rustler. He’s smart, he’s brave and he’s a killer. And you don’t have to worry about any court martial if you shoot first and argue afterwards.”

Soldier #1: “Well, we’ve been all over town, sergeant. You won’t like it here.”
Sgt. Dunn: “No? Why not?”
Soldier #2: “All the dames we’ve seen is fat.”
Soldier #1: “Yeah. There ain’t a skinny ankle in town.”

Tonia: “I have a message for you.”
Sgt. Dunn: “Yeah? How do you know it’s for me?”
Tonia: “This message is for the handsomest man in town.”
Sgt. Dunn: “Then you’re in the right place. Just speak up.”

Tonia: “You’re a conceited fool.”
Sgt. Dunn: “Yeah? Well you’re no shrinking violet, baby.”

Tonia: “I catch any man I want. Just now, down at saloon, a soldier, he throw himself at my feet. Fine Americana soldier. He look at me and he say, ‘What a beautiful figure that girl has got. I would walk over broken glass, in bare feet, for just one of her kisses.’ That’s what he say.”
Tonia’s cook: “He must have been drunk.”
Tonia: “Drunk? Yes, he was drunk. Drunk with love.”

Tonia: “You got something for me?”
Cisco Kid: “The surprise of your life.”

Cisco Kid of Tonia: “Her flirting days are over. And she’s ready to settle down.”

Warner Baxter as The Cisco Kid, planning to flee to Portugal with Tonia Maria (Dorothy Burgess) until he discovers the truth In Old Arizona (1928)

Warner Baxter as The Cisco Kid, realizing there’s a $5,000 bounty on his head In Old Arizona (1928)