Fort Worth *** (1951, Randolph Scott, Phyllis Thaxter, David Brian) – Classic Movie Review 7215

‘RANDOLPH SCOTT…the way Texas went was in his hands…and his six-guns set it straight!’ Director Edwin L Marin’s 1951 Technicolor Western Fort Worth stars Randolph Scott as gunslinger Ned Britt, who retires and then turns to mud-slinging as a newspaper editor. But the past is not another country after all, and he has to strap on those six-guns once more to try to despatch the bad guys, who are led by ruthless crooked cattle baron Gabe Clevenger (Ray Teal) and nasty Blair Lunsford (David Brian), Britt’s former friend.

Clevinger and his gang of hired guns resort to violence to stop the railroad coming to Fort Worth. Meanwhile, as if he doesn’t have enough troubles, two women are on Britt’s case –  the girl next door type Flora Talbot (Phyllis Thaxter), Lunsford’s fiancée, and the seductive Amy Brooks (Helena Carter).

The stalwart performances help Marin’s movie to be a worthwhile little Western, fairly adroitly made, fast moving, taut at just 80 minutes, and quite good of its humble kind.

Warner Bros’ low budget accounts for the studio bound look, but no matter. Scott is always a welcome, graceful presence in a Western. It was shot at Dijon Street at Warner Brothers Burbank Studios; the Iverson Ranch, Los Angeles; and the Warner Ranch, Calabasas, California. Ah the days when studios had their own ranches! It was profitable, taking $1,450,000 in US rentals.

Fort Worth also features Dickie Jones, Michael Tolan, Paul Picerni, Bob Steele (Shorty), Paul Picerni, Emerson Treacy, Walter Sande (Deputy), Chubby Johnson (Sheriff) and Don C Harvey.

Fort Worth is directed by Edwin L Marin, 80 minutes, Warner Bros, is written by John Twist, is shot in Technicolor by Sid Hickox, produced by Anthony Veiller, scored by David Buttolph and designed by Stanley Fleischer.

It follows Marin’s 1950 film Colt .45 with Scott. It is Marin’s last film in a 30-year career, as he died two months before it was released.

It is on DVD on 4 Film Favorites: Randolph Scott Westerns [DVD] [Region 1] with Colt .45, Tall Man Riding and Ride the High Country.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7215

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