Arrival of the railroad and the Great Western Cattle Trail turned Dodge City into the king of the cow-towns. That’s the historical backdrop to the film. Hollywood takes it from there. Wade Hatton (Errol Flynn) along with trusted sidekicks Rusty and Tex, lead a band of settlers bound for Dodge, among them the lovely Abbie Irving (Olivia de Havilland). Upon arriving in Dodge, they find a town terrorized by its outlaw element, led by the Surrett gang. Hatton is asked to pin on a sheriff’s badge and tame the town. He declines.

When a young boy is accidentally killed in an outburst of outlaw violence, Hatton reconsiders assisted by deputies Rusty and Tex. Hatton and Abbie are befriended by newspaper editor, Joe Clemens. Together they uncover enough evidence on Surrett and his gang to bring a case against them to court. Clemens prepares an editorial expose; but is shot in the back by Yancy, one of Surrett’s gunmen.

Hatton persuades Abbie to leave Dodge for her safety and arrests Yancy (Victor Jory) for Clemens’ murder. Awaiting trial, the town turns on the accused, threatening lynch-mob justice. Hatton and Rusty smuggle Yancy out of jail in a hearse. They take him to the depot, hoping for safe passage out of town on the train Abbie is leaving on. Surrett and his gang are waiting for them. A gun fight breaks out, along with a fire in the baggage car. Surrett uses Abbie as a shield to obtain Yancy’s release. He locks Hatton, Abbie and Rusty in the burning rail car. The trio escape the burning car. Hatton and Rusty take down Surrett and his gang as they flee.

With order restored in Dodge, Hatton is asked to take on another tough town, Virginia City Nevada. Hatton and Abbie accept the ‘happily-ever-after’ ending. The film grossed $2.532M on a budget of $1.06M. A good return by depression standards.

Next Week: The Westerner
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Ride easy,
Paul