Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

. . . of Western Do-Gooders providing Modern Medicine enabling population explosions in Developing Countries, but then failing to follow up by supplying the food and peace-keeping forces necessary to keep these unprecedented Hordes of Humanity Safe and Happy. 'NEATH THE ARIZONA SKIES tackles a similar Moral Dilemma. Is it Ethical to provide Native Americans with staggering sums of mineral royalties, endangering Traditional Life Styles and Culture? Half-indigenous "Nina" stands to be awarded $50,000 as SKIES begins (about twice Donald Trump's current net worth, adjusted for inflation). Around eight years old, this causes Nina nothing but trouble, as she's kidnapped or shot around again and again by typical Red State Greedheads. Anyone who currently lives near an "Indian Reservation" knows that many are awash in European-mode money, thanks to mineral royalties or gambling casinos foisted upon them by Government Do-Gooders. Most of these so-called "Sovereign Nations" are consequently roiled up in a perpetual state of Civil War, as the Illusion of Western Wealth causes continual factional in-fighting, often resulting in the one-sixteenths or Grandfathered-in White Tribal Members "Disenrolling" wholes and half-bloods from their Tribes. A close viewing of SKIES suggests that these hundreds of tribes should be combined into one, and given a region such as the Alleghenies, Great Lakes, or Southwest for an ACTUAL independent Homeland on which to revive their Traditional Culture. Then all Current or Past Enrollees could decide whether to be Native OR American (including U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren).

Another of John Wayne's cheapie westerns made for Lone Star. This one has him protecting a half-Indian girl while he searches for her father and fights off an outlaw (Yakima Canutt) who wants the girl and her father for reasons of his own. As is typical with these westerns, the best parts are the stunts. It's a fairly standard oater with not a whole lot recommend to those who aren't big fans of the Duke. The little girl is clearly a white kid with a terrible black wig on. She's a pretty bad actress, too. Hearing her repeatedly call Duke "Daddy Chris" is enough to turn your stomach. If you've seen any of the low-budget westerns Duke made in the '30s, you pretty much know what to expect here. If you haven't, go ahead and watch it but be prepared that there is nothing challenging here. It's a very simple cardboard story that runs less than an hour. Harmless but unsatisfying.

Someone once said the only good thing Lone Star ever did was to keep John Wayne employed during the thirties but I disagree heartily. My favourite John Wayne westerns are Lone Stars. I thought I would watch this movie today as a tribute to Shirley Jean Rickert, who died recently. Although she was in a couple of Little Rascal shorts, her main claim to fame was as Tomboy Taylor in the Mickey McGuire shorts. These shorts were similar to Our Gang and were made around the same time (late 20s to early 30s) but benefited enormously from having Mickey Rooney in the title role. "'Neath the Arizona Skies" was one of the very few credited parts in feature films that Shirley played in.When oil is found on Indian land, Chris Morrell (John Wayne) is sent to try to locate Nina's (Shirley Jean Rickert, playing a part Indian child) father so they can inherit the $50,000 payment. Of course the bad guys, led by Sam Black (Yakima Canutt) are hot on his trail and determined to kidnap the little girl. As with all Lone Stars, there is plenty of action, roping, stampeding, shoot outs etc.Nina is sent to a house Chris thinks will be safe but when she gets there although it has been taken over, Matt (Gabby Hayes) the cook, takes her under his wing and protects her. Meanwhile Chris is mistaken for a bank robber. The real robber fleeing the scene comes across Chris who has passed out from fatigue and changes shirts!!! Clara finds Chris and realises he was her dead brother's best friend. Unfortunately her other brother, Jim, is the real robber. This plot, strangely goes nowhere. Tom, Nina's real father, appears on the scene and while in the past he has been a ne'er do well, he now joins forces with Chris to protect his little daughter.She may not have had many credited parts but Shirley was an important part of this film. It must have been a memorable movie for her - she rode horses, rode in rivers, was in the middle of a shoot out!!! She must have had grand fun!!!Recommended.

"Daddy" Chris Morrell (John Wayne) is the guardian of a young Indian girl who stands to inherit fifty thousand dollars, whether or not her rightful father is ever found. Bad guy Sam Black wants that money, and is hot on the trail of Morrell and the girl. The action takes place in Snake River, used as the locale in a much later (1951) Durango Kid film - "Snake River Desperados". Safe to say, with John Wayne in these mid 1930 Lone Star films, Yakima Canutt or George (later Gabby) Hayes are usually close by, in this case both are, Yakima as gang leader Sam Black. Sheila Terry portrays the love interest, as the sister of a local bandit who trades shirt and scarf with a battered Wayne early on, putting him on the defensive in a plot line that goes nowhere. There's a very cool horse dive off of a rock face near the end, that actually looks pretty exciting. But everything else is fairly standard for the day, as John Wayne ends up in a clinch with Terry in the closing scene, with Gabby and Indian girl Nina giggling their approval.