The year after The Adventures of Robin Hood, Warner Bros. wanted another Technicolor picture directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. But to call it a companion piece or a spiritual successor would be a stretch. Flynn, at least, had never done a western before, nor had he practiced much with an accent appropriate for one. Nevertheless, the formula intrigued me.
Wade Hatton (Flynn), a cowhand and comrade of Col. Grenville M. Dodge (Henry O'Neill), visits the young namesake town for the first time in years, partly to escort westward settlers, including Abbie Irving (de Havilland). Little did he know that the gang of Jeff Surrett (Bruce Cabot) effectively runs the place. It takes a few tragic violent crimes to convince Wade to put on a sheriff badge and deputize his buddies, Rusty (Alan Hale) and Tex (Guinn "Big Boy Williams"), aware that things didn't work out for the last few guys who tried it. (Ann Sheridan gets third billing, but her character does little more than sing and dance on a stage.)
A basic setup, to be sure. Adding a tiny shred of complexity is what transpires between Wade and Abbie. She resents his rugged ways and especially his part, however vindicated, in the death of her dangerously drunken brother (William Lundigan). Wade finds her annoying in turn, but he still cares enough to protect her. As often happens in oldies, mutual animosity turns to love, sealed, alas, with a forced kiss.
When it's this hackneyed, I'm not surprised DC isn't as famous as the same year's Stagecoach. Still, it has good points or even advantages beyond color, such as no unfortunate depiction of Indians. (There's a scared Black man, but only briefly.) The stuntwork is almost as impressive. While the deaths are bloodless and abrupt, DC may contain more action overall, with a likely record-setting bar brawl. The finale isn't as anticlimactic.
I appreciate when a simple and familiar story doesn't get in the way of some choice dialogue and other details. We mostly have Rusty for comic relief, both directly and as the subject of wisecracks; the one child of note (Bobs Watson) might be funny by virtue of cuteness, but his role becomes more serious. This being set shortly after the War Between the States, we even get an anthem duel that may have inspired the one in Casablanca.
If there's a controversial element besides what I've mentioned, it's Wade's approach to policing. I'd never heard of a gun ban specific to a part of town beyond a given street; such a compromise could hardly satisfy either side of the debate. Wade shows no favoritism to his friends, even when they mean to help. He even entraps one for preparing to leave. Too bad there's no appealing to a higher authority in context.
DC may not be subversive or revolutionary among westerns, but if you like 'em vintage, I see no reason you shouldn't like this one. Maybe skip the "Warner Night at the Movies" treatment, tho.
No comments:
Post a Comment