... because it sags dreadfully, especially in the middle portion after Cooper's character arrives in South America. That and the complete absence of any kind of score makes it tough going.
Gary Cooper plays the Llano Kid, wanted dead or alive for robbing a stagecoach. He stops off in a town to have his horse shoed, and the town blacksmith happens to be a Bible beating preacher type who also, strangely enough is the sheriff. Satisfied that the sheriff has no idea who he is, the Kid goes to the saloon for a drink and some cards. But the fellow he's playing is cheating, and when exposed draws his gun and tries to kill the Kid. The Kid returns fire and kills him in what sure looks like self defense.
The Kid fools the towns folk and their posse into believing "he went thataway", retrieves his horse from the sheriff who vows to get him someday, rides to the railway station, and gets onboard. On the train he meets Abner Thacker, who offers The Kid a deal - If he'll pose as a rich South American woman's long lost son who ran away 15 years ago at the age of ten, they'll soak her for all she's worth and split the proceeds. The Kid agrees.
But once in South America, The Kid has second thoughts. The old woman who thinks he's her son is very kind to him, and he falls in love with Consuelo (Fay Wray), the old woman's companion. But Thacker is not having this newfound sentimentality cutting into his bottom line and threatens to turn The Kid into the local American consulate as a wanted criminal if he doesn't continue the ruse.
Complications ensue. In fact the complications are what liven up the last third of the film. First off there is an unexpected twist at the end. Secondly, the Bible preaching sheriff shows up at the widow's hacienda looking to bring The Kid back to Texas. This last part is very strange. This guy is a sheriff, not a U. S. marshal. He has no police powers in a foreign country. And who is guarding the town while he's globetrotting? And why this resolve to capture a guy who killed in self-defense?
The high point of this film is seeing the subtle humor in Cooper's performance. He'd played westerners and cowboys all through the 20s in the silent era because of his roping and riding skills. But talking film added a layer to the authenticity of his performance as a genuine cowboy.
