Badlands of Dakota *** (1941, Robert Stack, Broderick Crawford, Ann Rutherford, Richard Dix, Frances Farmer, Hugh Herbert, Andy Devine, Lon Chaney Jr) – Classic Movie Review 10,300

Director Alfred E Green’s well above just run-of-the-range 1941 Universal Pictures black and white Western film Badlands of Dakota stars Robert Stack, Broderick Crawford, Ann Rutherford, Richard Dix and Frances Farmer.

Stack plays wastrel Jim Holliday, who steals his older brother Bob (Crawford)’s childhood sweetheart Anne Grayson (Rutherford) against the backdrop of the Dakota gold rush.

Bob Holliday is the owner of the Bella Union saloon and gambling parlour in Deadwood. Jim Holliday is hired as the Deadwood town marshal, and he and his now girlfriend Anne Grayson cross paths with Wild Bill Hickok (Richard Dix ), General Custer (Addison Richards) and a Calamity Jane-type character just called plain Jane (Frances Farmer), who rescues Bob. Jane loves the now bitter Bob, who joins ruthless Jack McCall (Lon Chaney Jr) and his gang of renegade outlaws who, disguised as Indians, rob the stagecoach gold shipments.

Also notable in the particularly fine all-star cast is Richard Dix as Wild Bill Hickok and Addison Richards as General George Custer, plus Lon Chaney Jr, Fuzzy Knight as Hurricane Harry, Bradley Paige and Samuel S Hinds.

There is plenty of romance, comedy (Hugh Herbert as Rocky Plummer, Andy Devine as Spearfish) and exciting action (the arrival of the Sioux in a raid on Deadwood as the film’s climax). It is just a shame that the story is so routine, but the film is still enjoyable and worth seeking out though.

Dwight Lathan, Walter Carlson and Guy Bonham are Members of The Jesters 1876 Saloon Entertainers.

Gerald Geraghty writes the screenplay based on Harold Shumate’s story.

Stack underrated it as ‘One of the most forgettable Westerns ever made, a non-masterpiece.’

Badlands of Dakota is directed by Alfred E Green, runs 74 minutes, is made and released by Universal Pictures, is written by Gerald Geraghty and Victor McLeod
(additional comedy sequences), based on Harold Shumate’s story, is shot in black and white by Stanley Cortez, is produced by George Waggner and scored by Hans J Salter.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,300

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