Pardon My Gun (1930)

Directed by Robert De Lacey, Pardon My Gun is a 1930 pre-Code Western comedy that blends frontier antics with musical flair. Released by Pathé Exchange, the film stars Tom Keene (credited under his birth name George Duryea) and Sally Starr, and offers a playful take on cowboy romance, family feuds, and mistaken identities—all wrapped in a brisk 67-minute runtime.

Plot Summary
Ted Duncan (Tom Keene) is a charming cowboy caught in a romantic rivalry and a family feud between the Martins and the Coopers. He’s in love with Mary Martin (Sally Starr), but her family’s long-standing grudge against the Coopers complicates things. Add in a few comic misunderstandings, a frog-obsessed ranch hand, and a musical number or two, and you’ve got a Western that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Cast Highlights

• Tom Keene as Ted Duncan (his final film under the name George Duryea)
• Sally Starr as Mary Martin
• Mona Ray as Peggy Martin
• Lee Moran as Jeff Potter
• Robert Edeson, Hank MacFarlane, and Harry Woods round out the cast

Behind-the-Scenes Trivia

• The film features the song “Deep Down South”, recorded by legendary jazz cornetist Bix Beiderbecke in his final session as a bandleader. The recording also included Benny Goodman on clarinet and Gene Krupa on drums.
• This was the last film in which Tom Keene used his birth name, George Duryea, before adopting his more famous screen persona.
• The film aired on early television as far back as 1949, with documented broadcasts in Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, and Philadelphia.