Wichita *** (1955, Joel McCrea, Vera Miles, Lloyd Bridges, Wallace Ford, Edgar Buchanan, Peter Graves, John Smith) – Classic Movie Review 7578

‘Gateway to the West … Doorway to Hell!’ That is Wichita, the place. Wichita, the film is supposedly ‘The incredible but true story of WYATT EARP!’

Director Jacques Tourneur’s 1955 Western film Wichita stars reliable Westerner Joel McCrea, who gives a stylish performance as lawman Wyatt Earp, strapping on his gun for the first time to take on the outlaws pestering Wichita, Kansas. His first act is to ban guns, which obviously does little to win over the violently rowdy townsfolk. Interesting, then, that Wyatt Earp then tames his town with roaring guns. A Western without guns, well, there probably aren’t that many.

This enjoyable, rugged Western is low on authenticity (despite the poster claims of it being the true story of Wyatt Earp) but high on action. It is convincingly acted by a talented, rather special cast under the imaginative guidance of cult director Tourneur, who ensures that it is a stylish film of individual character, despite the often-seen, generic stock plot of a lawman ridding a town of bad guys.

You might have seen it all before, but you will have seldom seen it handled with such panache. It helps enormously that it is shot in Technicolor and CinemaScope by Harold Lipstein.

Also in the cast are Vera Miles, Lloyd Bridges, Wallace Ford, Edgar Buchanan, Peter Graves (as Morgan Earp), Carl Benton Reid, Keith Larsen (as Bat Masterson), John Smith (as Jim Earp), Walter Coy, Walter Sande, Robert J Wilke, Jack Elam and Mae Clarke. Sam Peckinpah has an uncredited bit part as a bank teller.

Wichita is directed by Jacques Tourneur, runs 81 minutes, is produced by Allied Artists Pictures, is released by Allied Artists Pictures (1955) (US) and Associated British-Pathé (1955) (UK), is written by Daniel B Ullman (story and screenplay), is shot in Technicolor and CinemaScope by Harold Lipstein, is produced by Walter Mirisch and Richard V Heermance (associate producer), and is scored by Hans J Salter, with Art Direction by Dave Milton and Tex Ritter singing the title song.

Tourneur and McCrea did three Westerns together, also including Stars in My Crown (1950) and Stranger on Horseback (1955). Tourneur and Lloyd Bridges also did the 1946 Western Canyon Passage together.

McCrea, who was 49, plays Wyatt Earp was 26 when he came to Wichita. Vera Miles, who plays McCrea’s romantic interest Laurie McCoy, was actually 26.

John Smith (1931–1995).

Robert Errol Van Orden’s agent Henry Willson, who also gave Tab Hunter and Rock Hudson their names, changed his name to John Smith to be ‘the only one in the business’. Smith created the character of Slim Sherman in TV’s Laramie (1959). Until his death in 1995, he remained close friends with his Laramie co-star Robert Fuller for 40 years.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7578

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