This is the second film to be based on Stuart N. Lake's biography of Wyatt Earp, an earlier version having appeared in 1934. The film plays fast and loose with historical fact with Earp played by Randolph Scott as an ex-army scout who arrives in Tombstone without any sign of his famous brothers and single handedly goes to the O.K. Corral for a rather anti-climatic shootout with the bad guys (led by Joe Sawyer as Curly Bill Brocious in the complete absence of the Clantons and McLaurys). The film, directed by Allan Dwan, is a perfectly servicable Western, the main interest of which is in the performances. Randolph Scott plays Wyatt Earp as if he was Randolph Scott and there are nice performances from Nancy and English actress Binnie Barnes (whom I met in London in the early 60s). Oddly, the film gives Earp no romantic involvement - leaving that department solely to Cesar Romero. It is Romero who gives the best performance as Doc Holliday (here called Halliday and being shot down before the O.K.Corral). In a supporting role is Ward Bond who had appeared in the 1934 verion and who would go on to play Virgil Earp in John Ford's 1946 version, MY DARLING CLEMENTINE. Rating ***
Showing posts with label Allan Dwan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Allan Dwan. Show all posts
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
FRONTIER MARSHAL (1939)
This is the second film to be based on Stuart N. Lake's biography of Wyatt Earp, an earlier version having appeared in 1934. The film plays fast and loose with historical fact with Earp played by Randolph Scott as an ex-army scout who arrives in Tombstone without any sign of his famous brothers and single handedly goes to the O.K. Corral for a rather anti-climatic shootout with the bad guys (led by Joe Sawyer as Curly Bill Brocious in the complete absence of the Clantons and McLaurys). The film, directed by Allan Dwan, is a perfectly servicable Western, the main interest of which is in the performances. Randolph Scott plays Wyatt Earp as if he was Randolph Scott and there are nice performances from Nancy and English actress Binnie Barnes (whom I met in London in the early 60s). Oddly, the film gives Earp no romantic involvement - leaving that department solely to Cesar Romero. It is Romero who gives the best performance as Doc Holliday (here called Halliday and being shot down before the O.K.Corral). In a supporting role is Ward Bond who had appeared in the 1934 verion and who would go on to play Virgil Earp in John Ford's 1946 version, MY DARLING CLEMENTINE. Rating ***
Friday, 11 February 2011
CATTLE QUEEN OF MONTANA (1954)
Thoroughly routine Western with the always watchable Barbara Stanwyck and a rather wooden Ronald Reagan. Babs arrives at the head of a herd of cattle in Montana, does some nude bathing, gets spied on by indians, meets Ronnie and sees her father gunned down during a stampede - and thats all in the first fifteen minutes. The indians are very post BROKEN ARROW but evil white men are giving them guns and whisky. Any interest there is is with the supporting cast which includes Chubby Johnson, Jack Elam, Gene Evans, Anthony Caruso and Myron Healey. The theme music that runs throughout the movie (credited to Louis Forbes) is very reminiscent of the song by Nelson Riddle and John Gabriel sung over the credits of Howard Hawks' 1967 EL DORADO. Director Allan Dwan directed his first film in 1911 and was one of the most prolific of all Hollywood directors. Rating **
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