KING OF THE SIERRAS

Cinemavixion Review

"King of the Sierras" emerges as a fascinating artifact of early Hollywood production, a Western whose very existence is a testament to the turbulent landscape of film finance and distribution in the 1930s. The film's narrative, centered around a dramatic roundup of wild mustangs in Arizona, is intertwined with a behind-the-scenes story of two separate productions being merged into one. Originally conceived by M.H. Hoffman Sr. and Jr. with director Arthur Rosson, this initial footage remained unreleased due to the collapse of their company. George A. Hirliman later acquired the material, commissioning Samuel Diege to shoot additional scenes, thus creating the version that would eventually reach audiences in 1938. This dual production history is reflected in the credits, with two distinct sets of actors and crew. The original Hoffman unit featured talents like animal trainer Jack Lindell and actors Frank Campeau and Wally Albright, while the Hirliman additions brought in Hobart Bosworth and Harry Harvey Jr. The plot cleverly uses trained horses, notably "Rex" as "El Diablo" and "Sheik" as the hero horse, adding a layer of animal-centric drama to the human conflict over land and survival. Despite its convoluted origins and a modest IMDb rating of 4.8, "King of the Sierras" offers a unique glimpse into the challenges of filmmaking and the resilience of storytelling, making it a compelling watch for enthusiasts of Westerns and film history alike.