This movie is the first sound version of the novel,The Three Godfathers. It was remade twice,once in 1936 and in 1948. The 1948 version starred John Wayne, and was in color. This version is grittier and does give realism to the old west. William Wyler insisted on filming in the desert,in August, which must have made everyone involved uncomfortable. The script was adapted from the novel by the author, Peter B. Kyne. It is challenging, despite Kyne’s literary skills. He was an accomplished writer. The acting doesn’t make anyone forget John Gielgud or Lawrence Olivier.
Hell’s Heroes is a western,involving three bad men, Bob Sangster, (Charles Bickford), ‘Barbwire’ Tom Gibbons, (Raymond Hatton), and ‘Wild Bill’ Kearney, (Fred Kohler). These three men after partying it up in the saloon,rob the bank,in the town of New Jerusalem. They are chased by the sheriff, (Walter James) and his posse. One of the robbers is killed by Parson Jones, (Buck Conners). The other three escape into the hostile desert. It is in this environment, that their lives are changed. They come across a covered wagon, with one lone occupant. It is a woman,(Fritzi Ridgeway),who gives birth to a son. She doesn’t survive giving birth. It is her request before dying, that the three men be the baby’s godfathers. They agree, and don’t know that the man killed in the bank robbery, was the baby’s father. The men, having lost their horses in a sandstorm, must trek across the desert on foot, with their new found infant. These criminals will learn things that law abiding citizen’s know. These are things like love and self sacrifice.
The film has its moments. They become to a point different people. It takes a while for them to truly understand Christian virtues. Hell’s Heroes still has the B-western feel. This is of course due to the acting, which seems forced. The directing is not really up to the academy award winning, William Wyler’s standards. Everyone has to start somewhere. It was his first sound film. This was a new technology, which forced many actors out of the industry. It took several years for a smooth transition to sound. Charles Bickford, who isn’t bad in the movie, became a famous character actor. He was very good as Oliver Niles in the 1954 version of A Star is Born. He was also excellent as Pop Warner, in Jim Thorpe-All American. Hell’s Heroes has a few moments, despite its flaws. It would be better to skip this version and watch Three Godfathers, directed by John Ford.