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17JULYAUGUST2013morerevolversfromthosehadfallenduringtheordeal.Hedonshishatexitstheburningstructureandattemptstoruntoanexteriorwallandsafetyfiringrapidlyinseveraldirections.Hemakesitoverthefenceandvaultsontothebackofhiswaitingsteeddoesa180andlandsinthesaddlefacingbackwardsspursonhishorsewhilefiringbothpistolsathisarchnemesesleftbehindAsthelegendaryagingwesternstarWilliamS.HartwhoservedastechnicaladvisoronthisfilmsaysinhisfarewellspeechtohisfaithfuladmirersduringtheprologuetoTumbleweed1938re-release...Ohthethrillofitall.AthrillindeedAfterBillyTheKidJohnMackBrownseemedtobedestinedforgreatthings.HeplayedtheleadinMGMsTheGreatMeadow1931whosestorytakesplaceinOldKentuckyhoweverwasfilmedintheSierraNevadaandwasthethirdleadinTheSecretSix1931behindWallaceBerryandLewisStoneinanoriginalstorybyFrancesMarionwidowofthegreatsilentcowboystarFredThomson.JohnsloveinterestwasJeanHarlowandayoungupstartnamedClarkGablereceivedseventhbilling.EvidentlyMGMdecidedtheyhadsomethingspecialinGableasJohnMackBrownwaspulledoffthesetoftheMGMproductionofLaughingSinners1931co-starringJoanCrawfordwhichhadalreadybegunfilmingandwasreplacedbyGable.InadditionMGMdidnotrenewhiscontract.HoweverJohnwasatrooperandwassooncastinfilmsforWarnerBrothersUniversalMonogramParamountandFox.JohnwastheromanticleadintheUniversalStudioswesternfilmLascaOfTheRioGrande1931costarringLeoCarrilloandDorothyBurgess.Thephotoplaywasbaseduponaclassicpoemwhichisstillreveredamongtodaysfavoritecowboypoets.TherhymeandmeterversewaswrittenbyFrankDesprezaliteraryandstagecriticfromLondon.Thestorywasfirstmadeasaonereelfilmin1915asTheMadStampedeandthenagainin1917asLascatheoriginaltitleofthepoem.DesprezsupposedlyhadlivedthelifeofacowboyinTexasbackinthe1880s.Sadlythethreearelostfilms.JohnMackcontinuedtomakevariousgenrefilmsincludinganoccasionalBwestern.In1933hewascastintheleadofa12chapterserialbyMascotFightingWithKitCarson.JohnlaterplayedalongsidethesultryhumorousandverypopularMaeWestinParamountsBelleOfTheNineties1934.JohnMacksharedthatinaparticularlovesceneIhadtoshowerherWestwithkisses.ItoldherafterwardMissWestkissingyouisintoxicating.SheshovedmeawayandsaidWellIdontwanttoturnyouintoadrunkinonlyonenight.BeingcastasidebyMGMledtoBrownbecomingahouseholdnameinBwesterns.HestarredinhissecondwesterncliffhangerRustlersOfRedDog1935forUniversal.TheBWesternproducerA.W.HackelthensignedhimforeightwesternfilmswithSupremePicturesthefirstbeingBrandedACoward1935.BeginningwiththeSupremeserieshewentfrombeingJohnMackBrownmelodramaleadingmantoJohnnyMackBrowncowboyfilmhero.ThesecondmovieforSupremewasBetweenMen1935whichnotedfilmhistorianandBWesterncriticBoydMagerscommentedIntheranksofBWesternsthisisanimportantpicture.ThefilmwasdirectedbyRobertBradburyfatherofBobSteeleandco-starredWilliamFarnumastalwartwesternactorfromtheGoldenAgeofcinema.ThelastoftheeightSupremereleaseswasTheCrookedTrail1936.HoweverA.W.HackelimmediatelynegotiatedadealwithRepublicStudiostodistributeeightmoreofJohnnyMackBrownmovieswithHackelremainingasproducer.UndercoverMan1936wasthefirstforRepublicpicturesandthelastwasBoothillBrigade1937.RegardingtheHackelwesternsGeorgeN.FeninandWilliamK.EversonintheirTheWesternfromSilenttoCineramacommentedTheBrownfilmswerestrictlyassembly-lineproductsbutBrownhimselfwasoneofthebestoftheWesternstarsafineathleteandapleasingperformer...JohnnywasfeaturedinanothercliffhangerWildWestDays193713ChaptersforUniversal.Healsowasaco-startoJohnWayneinParamountsBornToTheWest1937andplayedasupportingroleinanAwesternWellsFargo1937alsoforParamountfeaturingJoelMcCreaandFrancesDee.UniversalwaspleasedwiththepositivereactiontoJohnnysserialsandsignedhimtoa15