Watch The Star Packer/The Lucky Texan - Double Feature

The Star Packer/The Lucky Texan - Double Feature is an American Western film from 1934 that stars John Wayne in two separate roles. The movie features two separate storylines, but they both follow classic Western tropes of cowboys, outlaws, and shootouts. The first film, The Star Packer, opens with a town under attack by a notorious gang of bandits. After the sheriff is murdered, a new character, U.S. Marshal John Travers (Wayne) arrives to restore order to the town. Travers is accompanied by an unlikely sidekick, a grizzled old prospector named "Rusty" (George 'Gabby' Hayes).

The duo soon suspect that the gang's leader, "The Shadow," is hiding in the nearby mountains. The rest of the story is a classic Western adventure, with Travers and Rusty encountering danger and romance along the way.

The Star Packer is a movie that's very aware of its genre. It features all the familiar staples of Westerns, from saloons to six-shooters. But what really sets it apart is John Wayne's leading performance.

Wayne plays Travers with an effortless charisma, always seeming calm and collected no matter the danger. But he's also got a sense of humor, trading quips and sharp one-liners with Rusty.

The second film in the double feature, The Lucky Texan, is another classic Western tale, but with a slightly different focus. Wayne plays Jerry Mason, a young man who, with his partner Jake Benson (played by Wayne's real-life friend, George "Gabby" Hayes), discovers a rich vein of gold in a remote desert.

Mason and Benson's prospecting efforts soon lead them into conflict with a local rancher, who wants to claim the land for himself. Along the way, Mason falls in love with the rancher's daughter (Verna Hillie), leading to a classic Western triangle.

Like The Star Packer, The Lucky Texan is a relatively straightforward Western story, but with added depth from the character of Mason. Wayne's portrayal of Mason is convincingly earnest, and his chemistry with Hillie is palpable.

One thing that both films have in common is their cinematography. Shot using traditional Western settings and tropes, both films boast sweeping desert landscapes and rural towns with impressive authenticity.

Throughout both films, Wayne delivers the kind of no-nonsense, macho performance that would come to define his style in later years. But what sets these early roles apart is the added charm and humor that he brings. Whether he's cracking a joke with Rusty or flirting with Hillie, there's no denying that Wayne was a natural-born movie star.

Overall, The Star Packer/The Lucky Texan - Double Feature is a great showcase of early John Wayne work. Fans of classic Westerns will appreciate the familiar settings and themes, while newcomers will find plenty to enjoy in Wayne's excellent performances.