Dodge City (film)

1939 film

Dodge City

Theatrical release poster

Directed by| Michael Curtiz
Screenplay by| Robert Buckner
Produced by| Hal B. Wallis
Starring|

* Errol Flynn
* Olivia de Havilland
* Ann Sheridan

Cinematography| Sol Polito
Edited by| George Amy
Music by| Max Steiner

Production
company

Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributed by| Warner Bros. Pictures

Release dates

* April 1, 1939 (1939-04-01) (Dodge City, Kansas, premiere)
* April 8, 1939 (1939-04-08) (USA)

Running time

| 104 minutes
Country| United States
Language| English
Budget| $1,061,000[1][2][3]
Box office| $2,532,000[1]

Dodge City is a 1939 American Western film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, and Ann Sheridan.[4][5] Based on a story by Robert Buckner, the film is about a Texas cattle agent who witnesses the brutal lawlessness of Dodge City, Kansas and takes the job of sheriff to clean the town up. Filmed in Technicolor, Dodge City was one of the highest-grossing films of the year. This was the 5th of 8 movies that de Havilland and Flynn appeared in together.[6][7]

Various scenes were shot in Thousand Oaks, including at present day Wildwood Regional Park.[8]

## Plot

[edit]

The action of the film starts with Colonel Dodge (Henry O'Neill) arriving on the first train and subsequently opening the new railroad line that links Dodge City with the rest of the world. A few years later, Dodge City has turned into the "longhorn cattle center of the world and wide-open Babylon of the American frontier, packed with settlers, thieves and gunmen—the town that knew no ethics but cash and killing". In particular, it is Jeff Surrett (Bruce Cabot) and his gang who kill, steal, cheat and, generally, control life in Dodge City without ever being brought to justice. Any new sheriff, sworn into office in Dodge, is quickly driven out of town by Surrett and his cronies.

Colonel Dodge's friend Wade Hatton (Errol Flynn), a lone cowboy who was instrumental in bringing the railroad to Dodge City, is now on his way to the town leading a trek of settlers from the East coast. At Hatton's side are his old companions Rusty (Alan Hale) and Tex (Guinn "Big Boy" Williams), who are prepared to stay with him through thick and thin. Among the settlers are beautiful Abbie Irving (Olivia de Havilland) and her irresponsible brother Lee (William Lundigan), who, drunk, causes a stampede (which eventually kills him) and is shot by Hatton in self-defense. When the group arrive in Dodge City, Hatton is confronted with the full extent of the anarchy which is dictating everyday life there. Asked by anxious citizens—Abbie's uncle, Dr. Irving (Henry Travers) among them—to be the new sheriff, Hatton politely declines, saying he is not cut out for this kind of job.

Hatton changes his mind when, during a school outing, a young boy, Harry Cole is inadvertently killed by Surrett and his men. The new sheriff and his deputies—Rusty and Tex among them—have a hard time fighting the criminals. Regardless, all in all, Hatton was quite capable of his new job and was off to a good start cleaning up the town. Meanwhile, Hatton, Abbie and the likable newspaperman Joe Clemens (Frank McHugh) uncover enough evidence of Surrett's shady dealings to stand a chance in court. Before Joe could publish a story, one of Surrett's thugs, Yancey (Victor Jory) shoots the editor in the back. The only witness who can put Surrett behind bars now is Abbie whom Hatton, out of love for her, arranges to leave town for safety until further notice.

When Yancey is in jail for Joe's killing, Hatton has to protect him against the furious men outside who, not caring for Yancey's right to a fair trial, want to take the law into their own hands and lynch him. Intending to ensure that Yancey deserves a fair trial, Hatton and Rusty were able to manage to smuggle him out of town in a hearse to the train station where a train (which Abbie happens to be on) bound for Wichita was just about to leave. However, Surrett and his gang were waiting and sneak on board to try and spring Yancey. A gunfight then ensues and inadvertently causes a fire in the baggage car. Fearing for Hatton's life, Abbie rushes to the baggage car to warn him of the danger. Using her as a shield, Surrett orders Hatton and Rusty to release Yancey immediately. Afterwards, Surrett locks Hatton, Abbie and Rusty in the burning car. After the three manage to escape from the car, Hatton and Rusty kill Surrett and his gang who were trying to make a getaway.

Hatton succeeds in both overwhelming and catching Surrett's gang and winning Abbie's heart. Everything has been prepared for a quiet family life in newly civilized Dodge City, but Hatton is asked by Colonel Dodge to clean up Virginia City, Nevada, another railroad town more dangerous than Dodge City had ever been. Understanding how much Hatton is needed to settle the West, a loving Abbie suggests she and her new husband join the next wagon train for their new life together, and Col. Dodge states that Hatton has married the right woman.

## Cast

[edit]

* Errol Flynn as Wade Hatton
* Olivia de Havilland as Abbie Irving
* Ann Sheridan as Ruby Gilman
* Bruce Cabot as Jeff Surrett
* Frank McHugh as Joe Clemens
* Alan Hale as Rusty
* John Litel as Matt Cole
* Henry Travers as Dr. Irving
* Henry O'Neill as Colonel Grenville M. Dodge
* Victor Jory as Yancy
* William Lundigan as Lee Irving
* Guinn "Big Boy" Williams as Tex Baird
* Bobs Watson as Harry Cole
* Gloria Holden as Mrs. Cole
* Douglas Fowley as Munger
* Georgia Caine as Mrs. Irving
* Charles Halton as Surrett's Lawyer
* Ward Bond as Bud Taylor
* Cora Witherspoon as Mrs. McCoy, League of Purity
* Russell Simpson as Jack Orth
* Monte Blue as John Barlow
* Clem Bevans as Charley, the barber (uncredited)

## Production

[edit]

The railroad scenes were filmed on the Sierra Railroad in Tuolumne County, California.[9]

## Reception

[edit]

### Box office

[edit]

Although Errol Flynn was worried how audiences would accept him in Westerns, the film was a big hit, being the most popular Warner Bros. film of 1939.[10]

According to Warner Bros., the film earned $1,688,000 in the U.S. and $844,000 in other markets.[1]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Warner Bros financial information in The William Schaefer Ledger. See Appendix 1, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, (1995) 15:sup1, 1-31 p 20 DOI: 10.1080/01439689508604551
2. ^ Glancy, H. Mark (1992). "MGM Film Grosses, 1924–1948: The Eddie Mannix Ledger", Historical Journal of Film, Radio, and Television, 12, no. 2, pp. 127–43.
3. ^ "1939 Hollywood Toppers". Variety. January 3, 1940. p. 28.
4. ^ Variety film review; April 12, 1939, page 13.
5. ^ Harrison's Reports film review; April 22, 1939, page 62.
6. ^ "Feature Film/TV Episode/Video/TV Movie/TV Special/TV Mini-Series/Documentary/Video Game/Short Film, with Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland (Sorted by Year Descending)". IMDb.
7. ^ Vagg, Stephen (November 10, 2019). "The Films of Errol Flynn: Part 2 The Golden Years". Filmink.
8. ^ McKinney, John (2013). HIKE Ventura County. The Trailmaster, Inc. Page 85. ISBN 9780934161534.
9. ^ Jensen, Larry (2018). Hollywood's Railroads: Sierra Railroad. Vol. Two. Sequim, Washington: Cochetopa Press. p. 17\. ISBN 9780692064726.
10. ^ Tony Thomas, Rudy Behlmer * Clifford McCarty, The Films of Errol Flynn, Citadel Press, 1969 p 80-81

## External links

[edit]

* Dodge City at IMDb
* Dodge City at the TCM Movie Database
* Dodge City at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
* Dodge City at Rotten Tomatoes

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by Michael Curtiz

1910s|

* The Last Bohemian (1912)
* Today and Tomorrow (1912)
* Captive Souls (1913)
* My Husband's Getting Married (1913)
* The Exile (1914)
* The Borrowed Babies (1914)
* The Princess in a Nightrobe (1914)
* Prisoner of the Night (1914)
* Bánk Bán (1914)
* Golddigger (1914)
* Seven of Spades (1916)
* The Strength of the Fatherland (1916)
* The Karthauzer (1916)
* The Black Rainbow (1916)
* The Wolf (1916)
* The Medic (1916)
* Mr. Doctor (1916)
* Master Zoard (1917)
* The Red Samson (1917)
* The Last Dawn (1917)
* Spring in Winter (1917)
* Tartar Invasion (1917)
* Secret of St. Job Forest (1917)
* Nobody's Son (1917)
* The Charlatan (1917)
* A Penny's History (1917)
* The Fishing Bell (1917)
* Peace's Road (1917)
* Jean the Tenant (1917)
* Earth's Man (1917)
* The Colonel (1918)
* The Merry Widow (1918)
* Magic Waltz (1918)
* A skorpió I. (1918)
* The Devil (1918)
* Lulu (1918)
* Lu, the Coquette (1918)
* Júdás (1918)
* The Ugly Boy (1918)
* Alraune (1918)
* 99-es számú bérkocsi (1918)
* The Sunflower Woman (1918)
* Liliom (1919)
* The Lady with the Black Gloves (1919)

1920s|

* Boccaccio (1920)
* The Star of Damascus (1920)
* The Scourge of God (1920)
* Mrs. Tutti Frutti (1921)
* Good and Evil (1921)
* Mrs. Dane's Confession (1921)
* Labyrinth of Horror (1921)
* Sodom and Gomorrah (1922)
* Young Medardus (1923)
* Avalanche (1923)
* Nameless (1923)
* A Deadly Game (1924)
* General Babka (1924)
* Harun al Raschid (1924)
* The Moon of Israel (1924)
* Red Heels (1925)
* Cab No. 13 (1926)
* The Golden Butterfly (1926)
* The Third Degree (1926)
* A Million Bid (1927)
* The Desired Woman (1927)
* Good Time Charley (1927)
* Tenderloin (1928)
* Noah's Ark (1928)
* Glad Rag Doll (1929)
* Madonna of Avenue A (1929)
* The Gamblers (1929)
* Hearts in Exile (1929)

1930s|

* Mammy (1930)
* Under a Texas Moon (1930)
* The Matrimonial Bed (1930)
* Bright Lights (1930)
* A Soldier's Plaything (1930)
* River's End (1930)
* Demon of the Sea (1931)
* God's Gift to Women (1931)
* The Mad Genius (1931)
* The Woman from Monte Carlo (1932)
* Alias the Doctor (1932)
* The Strange Love of Molly Louvain (1932)
* Doctor X (1932)
* The Cabin in the Cotton (1932)
* 20,000 Years in Sing Sing (1932)
* Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)
* The Keyhole (1933)
* Private Detective 62 (1933)
* Goodbye Again (1933)
* The Kennel Murder Case (1933)
* Female (1933)
* Mandalay (1934)
* Jimmy the Gent (1934)
* The Key (1934)
* British Agent (1934)
* The Case of the Curious Bride (1935)
* Black Fury (1935)
* Front Page Woman (1935)
* Little Big Shot (1935)
* Captain Blood (1935)
* The Walking Dead (1936)
* The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936)
* Stolen Holiday (1937)
* Mountain Justice (1937)
* Kid Galahad (1937)
* The Perfect Specimen (1937)
* Gold Is Where You Find It (1938)
* The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
* Four's a Crowd (1938)
* Four Daughters (1938)
* Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)
* Dodge City (1939)
* Daughters Courageous (1939)
* The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939)
* Four Wives (1939)

1940s|

* Virginia City (1940)
* The Sea Hawk (1940)
* Santa Fe Trail (1940)
* The Sea Wolf (1941)
* Dive Bomber (1941)
* Captains of the Clouds (1942)
* Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
* Casablanca (1942)
* Mission to Moscow (1943)
* This Is the Army (1943)
* Passage to Marseille (1944)
* Janie (1944)
* Roughly Speaking (1945)
* Mildred Pierce (1945)
* Night and Day (1946)
* Life with Father (1946)
* The Unsuspected (1947)
* Romance on the High Seas (1948)
* My Dream Is Yours (1949)
* Flamingo Road (1949)
* The Lady Takes a Sailor (1949)

1950s|

* Young Man with a Horn (1950)
* Bright Leaf (1950)
* The Breaking Point (1950)
* Force of Arms (1951)
* Jim Thorpe – All-American (1951)
* I'll See You in My Dreams (1951)
* The Story of Will Rogers (1952)
* The Jazz Singer (1952)
* Trouble Along the Way (1953)
* The Boy from Oklahoma (1954)
* The Egyptian (1954)
* White Christmas (1954)
* We're No Angels (1955)
* The Scarlet Hour (1956)
* The Vagabond King (1956)
* The Best Things in Life Are Free (1956)
* The Helen Morgan Story (1957)
* The Proud Rebel (1958)
* King Creole (1958)
* The Hangman (1959)
* The Man in the Net (1959)

1960s|

* The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1960)
* A Breath of Scandal (1960)
* Francis of Assisi (1961)
* The Comancheros (1961)

Short films|

* Jön az öcsém (1919)
* Sons of Liberty (1939)

Productions|

* Bright Lights (1935)

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template