6.9
In this epic Western, Wade Hatton, a wagon master turned sheriff, tames a cow town at the end of a railroad line.
Errol Flynn
Wade Hatton
Olivia de Havilland
Abbie Irving
Ann Sheridan
Ruby Gilman
Bruce Cabot
Jeff Surrett
Frank McHugh
Joe Clemens
Alan Hale
Rusty Hart
John Litel
Matt Cole
Henry Travers
Dr. Irving
Henry O'Neill
Colonel Dodge
Victor Jory
Yancey
William Lundigan
Lee Irving
Guinn "Big Boy" Williams
Tex Baird
Bobs Watson
Harry Cole
Gloria Holden
Mrs. Cole
Douglas Fowley
Munger
Georgia Caine
Mrs. Irving
Charles Halton
Surrett's Lawyer
Ward Bond
Bud Taylor
Cora Witherspoon
Mrs. McCoy
Russell Simpson
Orth
Monte Blue
Barlow
Hank Bell
Arrested Mustached Man (uncredited)
Clem Bevans
Charley (uncredited)
George Bloom
Townsman (uncredited)
Chet Brandenburg
Townsman (uncredited)
Wally Brown
Cattle Auctioneer (uncredited)
James Burke
Cattle Auctioneer (uncredited)
Horace B. Carpenter
Train Passenger (uncredited)
Nat Carr
Crocker (uncredited)
Spencer Charters
Reverend (uncredited)
Tom Chatterton
Passenger (uncredited)
George Chesebro
Townsman (uncredited)
Chester Clute
Coggins (uncredited)
Tex Cooper
Townsman (uncredited)
Richard Cramer
Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Joseph Crehan
Hammond (uncredited)
Jim Farley
Engineer (uncredited)
Pat Flaherty
Cowhand (uncredited)
Sam Garrett
Rider / Roper (uncredited)
Sol Gorss
Train Fireman (uncredited)
Fred Graham
Al (uncredited)
George Guhl
Marshal Jason (uncredited)
Thurston Hall
Twitchell (uncredited)
Earle Hodgins
Spieler (uncredited)
Robert Homans
Mail Clerk (uncredited)
Reed Howes
Joe (uncredited)
Milton Kibbee
Printer (uncredited)
Lillian Lawrence
League Member (uncredited)
Vera Lewis
League Member in Polka-Dot Dress (uncredited)
Wilfred Lucas
Bartender (uncredited)
Merrill McCormick
Man Wanting Revenge by Hanging (uncredited)
Jack Mower
Man at Funeral (uncredited)
Pat O'Malley
Conductor (uncredited)
Bud Osborne
Stagecoach Driver / Waiter (uncredited)
Henry Otho
Conductor (uncredited)
Edward Peil Sr.
Mr. Turner (uncredited)
Ralph Sanford
Brawler (uncredited)
Francis Sayles
Stage Shotgun Guard (uncredited)
Fred 'Snowflake' Toones
Willie (uncredited)
Guy Wilkerson
Man Wanting Revenge by Hanging (uncredited)
Jack Kenny
Townsman (uncredited)
Director
Michael Curtiz
Screenplay
Robert Buckner
January 20, 2020
8
Well, well. So this is Dodge City, huh? Sort of smells like Fort Worth, don't it?
"Dodge City, Kansas - 1872. Longhorn cattle center of the world and wide-open Babylon of the American frontier - packed with settlers, thieves and gunmen".
"Dodge City... rolling in wealth from the great Texas trail-herds... the town that knew no ethics but cash and killing".
Enter trail boss Wade Hatton, cunningly disguised as a dashing Errol Flynn...
Dodge City, an all action Western from start to finish, finds Errol Flynn (in his first Western outing) on tip top form. Based around the story of Wyatt Earp, Michael Curtiz's expensively assembled film charms as much today as it did to audiences back in 1939. All the genre staples are holding the piece together, dastardly villains, pretty gals, wagon train, cattle drive, iron horse, Civil War, shoot outs, fist fights and of course an heroic Sheriff. All neatly folded by the astute and impressive Curtiz. Aided by Sol Polito's fluid Technicolor enhanced photography, and Max Steiner's breezy score, Curtiz's set pieces shine as much as they enthral. A burning runaway train and the finest saloon brawl in cinema are the stand outs, but there are many other high points on which to hang the hat of praise.
Very much a male dominated film, it's with the ladies that Dodge City fails to reach greater heights. Olivia de Havilland, who is always a feast for the eyes in Technicolor, disliked her role as Abbie Irving, and it's not hard to see why. There is not much for her to get her teeth into, it's a simple role that demands nothing other than saying the lines and to look pretty. Ann Sheridan as Ruby Gilman gets the more sparky role, but she sadly doesn't get that much screen time. Which is a shame because what little there is of Sheridan is really rather great.
Those problems aside, it's with the guys where the film is rightly remembered. Flynn attacks the role of Hatton with gusto and a glint in his eye. When he straps on the Sheriff badge for the first time it's akin to Clark Kent shredding his suit to become Superman. Yes it's that exciting. Bruce Cabot and Victor Jory are growly and great villains, while comedy relief comes in the fine form of side-kickers Alan Hale and Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams. Picture sets out to entertain, and entertain it does. In a year that saw other notable and lauded Westerns also released (Stagecoach, Jesse James and Destry Rides Again) give credit where credit is due, for Dodge City deserves its place amongst those other genre offerings - and most assuredly so as well. 8/10
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00