NekoHomey
Purely Joyful Movie!
BeSummers
Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.
John T. Ryan
HAVING SUCCESS IN such costumers as CAPTAIN BLOOD and THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, the brass at Warner Brothers decided to give Mr. Errol Flynn a temporary new address. Instead of the High Seas or Sherwood Forest, we have the heroics performed in the Old West.BEING THAT THIS was a ground breaker for both Mr. Flynn, as well as the Studio, the trappings were superb; having spared no expenses. Technicolor was pressed into service; its first use at Warner Brothers having been applied in the previous years ROBIN HOOD (also a Flynn-Olivia De Haviland co-starring vehicle).IN THE "CHAIR" we have the very stylish, former documentary making Director, Michael Curtiz. Being the same guy who would ultimately deliver CASABLANCA (Warner Brothers, 1942), there were certain similarities in storytelling and photography in evidence. The use of crowds, the way in which one scene dissolves into the next and the method of spotlighting the main characters are testimony of what we are talking about.ONE PARTICULAR DRAMATIC device stands out in particular.IT IS THE Director's use of opposed and highly disparate groups being engaged in some bar room group singing is one ploy that Curtiz used more than once. Let us explain further.IT IS IN the mid-point of DODGE CITY that we see a stage show being performed with lead singer, Ruby Gilman (Anne Sheridan) is belting out "Marching Through Georgia"; which is joined in by about half of the saloon patrons, the Yankees. The other faction, the guys who are with Errol's cattle drive from Texas, is comprised of former Confederates. The Southerners counter with their rendition of "Dixie": which wins the vocal skirmish, and at least compensates, in a small measure, for the surrender at Appomatix Courthouse.NOW, ABOUT THREE years later, Mr. Curtiz inserts a similar scene into Rick's Cafe Americaine in CASABLANCA, where the Nazi Germans are singing "Watch on the Rhine" and Laszlo (Paul Henreid) organizes the French Patrons in "La Marsiellies".SO WE HAVE the same "Gag" with a different spin.WITH THE RELEASE and the resulting success of DODGE CITY, Jack Warner & Company had given the world a multi-faceted Errol Flynn; being Swashbuckler, Western Hero, War Herro and Dramatic Actor.CLEVER, THESE Americans-right, Schultz?
Spikeopath
"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 that Dodge City 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. Dodge City 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, Dodge City deserves its place amongst those offerings. Most assuredly so as well. 8/10
JimSDCal
"Dodge City" is Warner Bros.' action star Errol Flynn's attempt at the western genre. He portrays Wade Hatton, an adventurer who settles in Dodge City, Kansas and attempts to clean up the unruly city to make it safe for civilians who find the "cowtown" dangerous. Hatton's main antagonist is Jeff Surrett, a businessman who uses violence to achieve his aims. Hatton is ably assisted by his sidekick, Rusty (Alan Hale), who acts as deputy and backs up Hatton in all his fights, while he is sheriff and before. Wade has a contentious relationship with a woman, played by Olivia deHavilland. At first she does not like Hatton, blaming Wade for the death of her brother on a cattle drive but coming to love him when he shows his courage in opposing the men who make Dodge City a dangerous place to live. This film is directed by Michael Curtiz, one of Warners' top directors and top-billed by Flynn, a major star, bu this is only an average western, so it gets a grade of B-
fimimix
I was really surprised that only 29 comments were posted for this movie. I rate it at 10, because all of the people in it were at their prime and beautiful....even the men. Backing-up the big stars, you'll see all the familiar faces that made the western movies so watchable. Ward Bond, et al, must have made as much money in residuals (they made SO MANY FILMS) as the headliners.Erroll Flynn gets the job as sheriff (Wade Hatton) and does a good job in his role. The film's color shows-off his manliness, his acting was good. Olivia de Haviland ("Abbie Irving") is pretty-much window-dressing, having little opportunity to display her talents. She, too, was beautiful. Of course, this is one of those films where the leading-man gets his girl.This is one of the early western films to be shot in Technicolor's, and was one of several TCM showed recently in their tribute to films starring Flynn and de Haviland. I guess younger watchers haven't seen this film....I didn't even know it existed.It's importance is that after this film Ms. de Haviland began to let it be known she was very unhappy with the roles the studio was giving her. EVEREYONE was campaigning to appear in "Gone with the Wind" that same year - Ms. de Haviland knew where to go - right up to the boss' wife. She got the role she wanted, "Melanie", and finally got the opportunity to show what a great actress she was.Director Michael Curtiz put scriptor Robert Buckner's story in an easy- to-follow movie - these early films are a joy to watch, simply because they have just this quality. I recommend for everyone.
