Directed by Sam Newfield and produced by Puritan Pictures, Aces and Eights is a compact, 62-minute Western drama that blends gambling intrigue with frontier justice. Released on June 6, 1936, the film stars Tim McCoy as a mysterious gambler who rides into town and uncovers a plot to defraud a Mexican ranching family.
Plot Summary
Tim Madigan (Tim McCoy), a gentleman cardsharp with a reputation for fairness, arrives in a border town where Jose Hernandez is being manipulated by crooked financiers Ace Morgan and Amos Harden. They lend Jose money and then rig a poker game to win back his land. When Tim exposes the cheating, Jose is killed, and Tim is falsely accused of murder.
Assuming the alias Tom Harrington, Tim sets out to clear his name and protect the Hernandez family—especially Juanita Hernandez (Luana Walters). With help from a local marshal and a few loyal allies, Tim confronts the villains in a final showdown that restores justice and honor.
Cast Highlights
- Tim McCoy as ‘Gentleman’ Tim Madigan
- Luana Walters as Juanita Hernandez
- Rex Lease as Jose Hernandez
- Wheeler Oakman as Ace Morgan
- J. Frank Glendon as Amos Harden
- Charles Stevens, Earle Hodgins, and Jimmy Aubrey in supporting roles
- Karl Hackett appears as Wild Bill Hickok, narrating the prologue
Production Notes
- Directed by Sam Newfield, one of the most prolific B-movie directors in Hollywood history, known for his rapid shooting schedules and genre versatility.
- The film was produced by Sigmund Neufeld, Newfield’s frequent collaborator, under the low-budget Puritan Pictures banner.
- The title refers to the infamous poker hand “Aces and Eights,” supposedly held by Wild Bill Hickok when he was shot—symbolizing death and betrayal.
- The film’s narrative structure includes a framing device with Hickok narrating the story, adding a mythic tone to the tale.
- Though modest in production, the film features strong moral themes, emphasizing honor, justice, and the dangers of greed.
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