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Movies: Wright's Greatest Sorrow

Click here to read the story:

• How and why Wright got into the movie business

• Which movies were actually based on his stories

• Which were based on stories he had never even seen and quickly despised.

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The Californian  (1937)  59 minutes, 20th Century Fox (Released in Great Britain as "The Gentleman From California.")

Reviews: Both the Motion Picture Guide and Variety (July 1, 1937) agree that this is a pretty boring and unimaginative movie.  Variety says it can be used as a "dueler," that is as half of a double feature, but not as a first run.  "Just another picture," says Variety.  "Pretty lame oater all around," says the Motion Picture guide.  The story is set in Southern California just before and after annexation by the United States.  It seems that tax collectors have moved into the territory and have found it very easy to "steal" the fertile land from pioneer citrus growers, by foreclosing for unpaid taxes .  Both reviewers mention that the story has a Robin Hood theme.  The MPG says it is a "Robin Hood/Zorro-type tale starring Cortez as the dashing hero who helps break up a group of unscrupulous tax collectors. . . ."

Actually Wright did not write the story for this movie or even see it before it was produced as a movie, though Wright was paid for it.  See my movie introduction page for more of the story of the 1935 Lesser/Wright contract.  Wright's son Gilbert wrote three stories in fulfillment of the second half of the troublesome 1935 Wright/Lesser contract.  This is the only one of the three that Lesser kept and used.

Release: 20th Century Fox

Production: Principle Pictures production by Sol Lesser

Director: Gus Meins

Writing/Screenplay: MPG says, Writer: Gilbert Wright (based on a story by Harold Bell Wright) adapted by Gordon Newell.  Variety says: Story by Harold Bell Wright, adapted by Gordon Newell, screen play by Gilbert Wright.

Availability: This movie probably exists but has never been made available on video.