The Cowboy Millionaire
"He rode the range to find love... and followed her across the ocean to keep it!"
Plot
The Cowboy Millionaire follows the story of Lady Barbara, a wealthy English aristocrat who travels to America and visits a dude ranch in Wyoming. There she meets and falls for Tom, a handsome cowboy who works at the ranch, unaware that he's actually a millionaire pretending to be a working cowboy to find genuine love. When Lady Barbara discovers what she believes is Tom's deception - that he's merely a poor cowboy pretending to be wealthy - she breaks off the relationship and returns to England heartbroken. Tom, genuinely in love and actually wealthy, follows her back to England to prove his love and reveal his true identity, leading to a series of comedic and romantic complications as he navigates British high society to win back the woman he loves.
About the Production
The film was produced during the height of the B-Western era, when RKO was competing with other studios for the cowboy film market. George O'Brien was one of RKO's reliable Western stars at the time. The English sequences were filmed entirely on studio sets due to budget constraints, with the production team creating elaborate mock-ups of British manor houses and London streets. The film was completed in just 18 days, typical of the fast-paced production schedule for B-pictures of this period.
Historical Background
The Cowboy Millionaire was produced during the Great Depression, a time when escapist entertainment was particularly valuable to American audiences. The mid-1930s saw the peak popularity of B-Westerns, with studios producing dozens of low-budget cowboy films annually. The film reflects the era's fascination with the American West as a symbol of freedom and authenticity, contrasting it with European aristocracy. The dude ranch setting was particularly relevant as these vacation destinations had become popular among wealthy Easterners and Europeans during the 1920s and 1930s. The film also captures the transitional period in Hollywood when sound technology was fully established but production methods were still evolving from silent film techniques.
Why This Film Matters
The Cowboy Millionaire represents a specific subgenre of Western films that blended traditional cowboy elements with romantic comedy and fish-out-of-water scenarios. It contributed to the popular image of the cowboy as a symbol of American authenticity and virtue, contrasting with perceived European sophistication. The film helped establish George O'Brien as a reliable Western star during his later career at RKO. It also reflects 1930s Hollywood's approach to class themes, suggesting that true worth lies in character rather than social status or wealth. The film's cross-Atlantic romance narrative anticipated later Hollywood productions that would explore American-British cultural differences.
Making Of
The production faced several challenges during filming, including a major studio fire at RKO that destroyed some of the original sets for the English sequences, requiring rapid reconstruction. George O'Brien reportedly performed many of his own stunts, including several horseback riding sequences that impressed the crew. The chemistry between O'Brien and Bostock was so genuine that studio executives considered pairing them for additional films, though scheduling conflicts prevented this. Director Edward F. Cline brought his comedy expertise to the Western format, incorporating several visual gags and timing techniques from his silent film background. The film's screenwriter, Jack Townley, specialized in Western comedies and wrote several similar films for RKO during this period.
Visual Style
The cinematography, handled by Jack MacKenzie, utilized standard techniques for B-Westerns of the period, with clear, well-lit compositions suitable for smaller theater screens. The outdoor sequences at Iverson Ranch took advantage of natural lighting to create authentic Western landscapes. The English interiors featured more elaborate lighting setups to suggest aristocratic settings, contrasting with the more naturalistic look of the ranch scenes. The film employed several tracking shots during horseback riding sequences, adding dynamism to the action scenes. MacKenzie's work maintained visual consistency despite the dual settings, creating a cohesive look throughout the production.
Innovations
While not groundbreaking technically, the film demonstrated competent use of sound recording technology for outdoor scenes, which remained challenging in 1935. The production employed effective use of rear projection for some traveling sequences, a technique becoming standard in the mid-1930s. The film's editing, supervised by Robert Bischoff, maintained smooth transitions between the American and English settings. The makeup department created convincing transformations for the English sequences, particularly for George O'Brien's character when adapting to British society. The film's special effects were minimal but effective, focusing on practical stunts and action sequences.
Music
The musical score was composed by Alberto Colombo, RKO's house composer for B-pictures. The film featured several original songs including 'My Cowboy Love' and 'England's Roses,' which served as leitmotifs for the romantic plot. The soundtrack incorporated typical Western musical elements, with guitar and harmonica prominent in ranch scenes, while more orchestral arrangements accompanied the English sequences. The sound design emphasized natural ambient sounds for outdoor scenes, including cattle, wind, and hoofbeats, creating authentic atmosphere. The film's audio quality was consistent with RKO's technical standards for mid-1930s productions.
Famous Quotes
In Wyoming, we judge a man by his character, not his title.
Love doesn't need a passport to cross an ocean.
Some things are worth more than all the money in England.
A cowboy's heart is the same whether he's wearing boots or spats.
Memorable Scenes
- The opening scene where Lady Barbara arrives at the dude ranch, completely unprepared for Western life and immediately creating comedic contrast with the rugged environment
- The moonlight ride where Tom and Lady Barbara share their first romantic moment, with the vast Wyoming landscape serving as backdrop
- The dramatic revelation scene where Lady Barbara discovers what she believes is Tom's deception, leading to her decision to return to England
- Tom's arrival in England, where his cowboy ways clash hilariously with British high society protocols
- The final reconciliation scene where Tom proves his true identity and love, bringing the cross-cultural romance to its satisfying conclusion
Did You Know?
- George O'Brien was a former amateur boxing champion and World War I veteran before becoming a film star, which added authenticity to his cowboy roles
- The film was one of several 'dude ranch' Westerns popular in the mid-1930s, capitalizing on the public's fascination with Western vacations
- Director Edward F. Cline was a comedy specialist who had previously worked with Buster Keaton and the Marx Brothers
- The film's title was changed during production from 'The English Duke' to 'The Cowboy Millionaire' to better emphasize the Western elements
- Evalyn Bostock was a relatively new actress at RKO, having been discovered in a beauty contest
- Edgar Kennedy, famous for his 'slow burn' comedy technique, provides comic relief as the ranch foreman
- The film featured several popular songs of the era, though it was not a traditional musical
- RKO released the film on a double bill with another Western, 'The Fighting Pilot', to maximize theater attendance
- The English scenes contain several cultural stereotypes typical of American films of the period
- The film's success led to a planned sequel that was never produced due to scheduling conflicts with George O'Brien
What Critics Said
Contemporary reviews were generally positive for a B-Western, with The Hollywood Reporter praising George O'Brien's 'authentic cowboy charm' and the film's 'entertaining blend of romance and Western action.' Variety noted that while the plot was predictable, the execution was competent and the pacing brisk. Modern critics have viewed the film as a representative example of mid-1930s B-Westerns, with some appreciation for its attempt to blend genres. Film historians have noted that while not groundbreaking, the film demonstrates the professional craftsmanship typical of RKO's B-unit productions. The film is occasionally cited in studies of the cowboy genre's evolution during the sound era.
What Audiences Thought
The film performed adequately at the box office, particularly in smaller markets where Western films were consistently popular. Audience response was generally favorable, with many viewers enjoying the combination of Western action and romantic elements. The film's cross-cultural appeal resonated with audiences during a time when international travel was becoming more common, even if most viewers experienced it vicariously through films. The chemistry between the leads was frequently mentioned in audience letters to movie magazines of the era. The film found particular success in rural areas and smaller towns where Western films were guaranteed draws.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- The Dude Ranger (1934)
- In Old Santa Fe (1934)
- Riders of the Purple Sage (1931)
- The Virginian (1929)
This Film Influenced
- The Cowboy and the Lady (1938)
- The Dude Goes West (1948)
- Along Came Jones (1945)
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Film Restoration
The film survives in its complete form and has been preserved by the Library of Congress as part of the RKO collection. Several 35mm prints exist in film archives worldwide. The film has been digitally restored and is available through various classic film streaming services. While not considered lost, some elements show deterioration typical of films of this era, particularly in the English sequences where color tinting was originally used.