Three Texas Steers (1939) – A Cowboy, a Circus & a Fair Bit of Cheese

Alright, so this one’s a trip down yeehaw lane. “Three Texas Steers” is a classic 1939 B-Western, part of the whole “Three Mesquiteers” series (they did over 50 of them, tror jag!). Directed by George Sherman – who pretty much lived in the saddle – and featuring a young John Wayne, the film gives you the kind of simple shoot-from-the-hip storytelling you don’t really see anymore. It’s rough around the edges, full of dusty charm and ridiculous stunts.

John Wayne here isn’t yet the Duke we all picture with that big walk and even bigger attitude. He’s still finding his screen swagger, but man, you see flickers of it. And Raymond Hatton kinda steals the show with his grumpy grandpa energy. Carole Landis plays the circus boss lady with just enough sass to keep things spicy, even if the script doesn’t give her much meat.

Now, I gotta admit, the moment the circus gets pulled into the cowboy drama, I nearly spit out my kvällskaffe. Cowboys and elephants? What’s next – stagecoach clowns? But oddly enough, it sorta works. There’s this chaotic charm, like mixing surströmming with tacos. Shouldn’t go together, but you remember it.

One weirdly specific memory: I actually saw this flick in 1994 at a VHS-träff out in Värmland. Some old dude screened dusty reels in a barn, and we all sat on hay bales – yes, really – with lukewarm folköl in hand. Someone’s parakeet kept screeching during the loud scenes. Perfect atmosphere.

Anyway. The film’s campy as hell but that’s part of the fun. It’s not deep, and yeah, some bits are slower than a pensionär on Östermalmstorg. But if you’ve got a soft spot for cowboys, old school stunts, or just wanna see Wayne before he went full ikon – it’s a cozy 56 minutes.

Worth it? Maybe. Depends on how many steers you’ve got in your own circus.

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