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Dodge City is a western movie starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. Directed by Hungarian-turned-Hollywood filmmaker Michael Curtiz and based on a story by Robert Buckner, it was filmed in early Technicolor. As a classic western, Dodge City contains — with the possible exception of an attack by hostile Red Indians — all the stock ingredients and clichés the genre has usually been associated with. It chronicles the rise, after the end of the Civil War, of the small frontier post of Dodge City, Kansas to civilized and respectable town and trading place for cattle. In the process, Dodge City has to get rid of the baddies terrorizing the citizens, and it takes a new sheriff and his deputy to clean up the town and introduce law and order.

The action of the film starts with Colonel Dodge 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 and his gang who kill, steal, cheat and, generally, control life in Dodge City without ever being brought to justice. As Surrett has installed one of his puppets as sheriff, the other citizens' hands are tied when it comes to arresting any of the evildoers.

Dodge's friend Wade Hatton, 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 is his old companion Rusty, who is prepared to stay with him through thick and thin. Among the settlers are beautiful Abbie Irving and her irresponsible brother, who, drunk, causes a stampede 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 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 is inadvertently killed by Surrett and his men. The new sheriff and his deputy -- Rusty of course -- have a hard time not just fighting the criminals but also convincing all the farmers who have been wronged by Surrett that mob rule ("Come on, boys, let's take 'em out to the plaza") is out of the question: When Yancy, one of Surrett's thugs, is in jail, Hatton has to protect him against the furious men outside who, not caring for Yancy's right to a fair trial, want to take the law into their own hands and lynch him right then and there.

In the end Hatton succeeds in both overwhelming and catching the baddies 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 Wade is needed to settle the West, a loving Abbie heartily suggests she and her new husband join the next wagon train for their new life together.

Memorable scenes

• The railroad as a symbol of progress: a race between the Iron Horse and the old stagecoach which has served Dodge City for decades but whose time is now over
• Rusty attending a meeting of the "Pure Prairie League of Dodge City", a gathering of elderly women strongly associated with the temperance movement. (The organization may have been the source of the name for the 1970s and 80s band of the same name).
• A saloon brawl, triggered by a party of Confederate veterans Dixie") — the North against the South, a decade after the end of the Civil War. Actress Ann Sheridan loses the top of her dress while falling off a chair in the scene.
• The editor of the Dodge City Star, trying to be brave and publishing an exposé about Surrett and his evil machinations, being murdered by Yancy — investigative journalism and its bitter consequences
• A speeding train on fire — the final shoot-out.
• Wade, Abby, and Rusty's daring escape out of the burning box car.
• Errol Flynn as Wade taking a fall and having a gate bounce off the back of his head in the newspaper office.

Cast

• Errol Flynn as Wade Hatton
• Olivia de Havilland as Abbie Irving
• Bruce Cabot as Jeff Surrett
• Alan Hale, Sr. as Rusty
• Victor Jory as Yancy

35 Comments »

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Colorful Oater

As the newly founded Dodge City teems with violence and chaos, an
Irishman reluctantly becomes Marshall and tries to tame the West in
this standard but enjoyable and colorful Western. Flynn makes a dashing
hero in his first Western, one of five films he made with de Havilland
and Hale. Individually, he made nine films with de Havilland, 15 with
Hale, and 12 with director Curtiz. de Havilland, looking lovely as
always, plays the wholesome love interest. Sheridan is a saloon girl
who warbles a song but is wasted in a small role. Cabot makes a slick
villain while the supporting cast includes such familiar faces as
Travers, Fowley, and Bond.

kenjha - 3 April 2009

An Errol Flynn western

"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-

JimSDCal from United States - 10 January 2009

Decent, yes, but oddly flat

DODGE CITY was the first Errol Flynn Western, an attempt by Warner Bros
to capitalise on renewed big studio interest in the genre (STAGECOACH
was released in the same year)and to sell him in an action role where
he wasn't swashbuckling the high seas. It's a decent film, and fans of
Flynn and de Havilland should definitely check it out, yet it just
feels flat.Perhaps Flynn, who really was a good actor (not just a "pretty
boy")didn't yet feel comfortable in buckskin (he would do much better a
couple of years later in THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON). Perhaps it is
the Technicolour, which looks good, but seems to suck atmosphere out of
this Western. Pastel pretty Technicolour tones did not seem to suit
Westerns at this stage. I would also have liked to see de Havilland
have more scenes. She is gorgeous and plays the plucky heroine very
well, yet this great actress was getting stifled by these sorts of
roles, even if she did share great chemistry with Flynn. Overall, it's
not a bad film, just not a very interesting or different take on the
Western.

Jem Odewahn from Australia - 4 May 2008

When the west was wild…

Errol Flynn rides to his first western in this Technicolor movie from
1939.Michael Curtiz' Dodge City is a fantastic western.Flynn plays Wade
Hatton who has to safe the city where violence flourishes.It is ran by
the villainous Jeff Surrett (Bruce Cabot).He runs the city with the
ways of a dictator telling what to do and what to say.The citizens are
helpless until Wade comes to safe the day.There is also a lady
along.She's Abbie Irving, played by who else but the wonderful Olivia
De Havilland.Soon there might be romance that flourishes.Errol Flynn
and Olivia De Havilland work great together in this film as they always
did.Whether they were in the Sherwood forest or in a western town,
there was always chemistry between them.Bruce Cabot makes a fine
villain.Alan Hale brings some comedy to the picture playing Rusty
Hart.The brilliant Henry Travers is Dr.Irving.I must also mention the
kid Bobs Watson, who plays Harry Cole.The scenes with him are the most
moving in this film.I really enjoyed this western story.They should
make more movies like this today.

Petri Pelkonen (petri_pelkonen@hotmail.com) from Finland - 21 April 2008

Very Good

Dodge City (1939) *** 1/2 (out of 4) Former trailboss Wade Hatton (Errol Flynn) takes the Sheriff job in
Dodge City to clean the town up, which includes taking care of the top
bad guy (Bruce Cabot). This is only my third Flynn film and so far this
is probably my favorite performance from him. Once again the energy he
brings to every scene is truly remarkable. Just the way he walks seems
to light the screen up. Olivia de Havilland is also good in her role as
is Cabot, Frank McHugh and Henry Travers. Director Michael Curtiz adds
energy to every scene and handles the brawl fight, the best I've seen,
very well. The Technicolor looks terrific especially the fire on the
train at the end. The outcome of the little boy was also nice to see
considering how out of the ordinary it is.

Michael_Elliott from Louisville, KY - 11 March 2008

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