Le Revolver matrimonial sets its story of thwarted love in Arizona and has Hamman revive his character from Eclipse’s “Arizona Bill” series. This is a rather conventional comedy in which a wealthy ranch-owner, Mister Baker, refuses to let a mere cowboy romance his niece Maud, and the two have to find a way to elope and marry on their own. Although shot in the Camargue, the film makes little use of the distinctive landscape and, in an unusual move, relies on three letters: one to introduce Bill to Baker, the others for Bill’s confession of love, and Maud’s plan for her rescue. It also has Bill scare a servant in blackface.
But the film certainly has moments of interest. As a western hero, Hamman gets to help wrestle a bull down to the ground and later, with friends, “hold up” the train carrying Maud and her uncle so he can ride off with her. The scene in which Maud receives Bill’s letter and then her uncle spots and seizes it also makes unusual use (at least for these films) of a large mirror in the left background that gives the maid, servant, and uncle doubled entrances into the shot frame. The best comic moments come in the opening and closing. In the first scene, six suitors court Maud, each of which has one simple task in the process of giving her a cup of coffee – which results in her grimace. In the end, Bill lassoes a preacher and drags him into the desert to wed the two lovers as they clasp hands on horseback.

Richard Abel