Montana Belle *** (1952, Jane Russell, George Brent, Scott Brady, Andy Devine, Forrest Tucker, Ray Teal) – Classic Movie Review 11,613

Director Allan Dwan’s 1952 Trucolor Western film Montana Belle stars Jane Russell, George Brent, Scott Brady, Andy Devine, Forrest Tucker, Jack Lambert, Ray Teal and Rory Mallinson.

Russell enjoys herself as the famous Oklahoma outlaw and banditress Montana Belle Starr, embroiled criminally with the Dalton Gang (Brady, Teal and Mallinson as Bob, Emmett and Grant Dalton) then with Mac (Forrest Tucker) and Ringo (Jack Lambert), in a good, solid Western.

Russell’s Belle Starr is also embroiled romantically with Bob Dalton (Brady), who has rescued her from a lynching, gang member Mac (Forrest Tucker) and wealthy saloon owner Tom Bradfield (Brent), who is part of a bankers’ scheme to trap the Daltons.

Montana Belle is nothing outstanding, yet it has some brio in the acting and zest in Dwan’s direction, and it is quite attractive. The young Russell is bright and appealing and, as Belle Starr is also a saloon entertainer, she gets to sing too, of course – especially sweet is ‘The Gilded Lily’ (written by Portia Nelson and Margaret Martinez) but also My Sweetheart’s the Man in the Moon (1892).

It is very much a fictionalized biography. Belle Starr was murdered in 1889 in Oklahoma and the Dalton Gang did not become active until 1890.

Also John Litel, Roy Barcroft, Holly Bane, Gene Roth, Gregg Barton, Glenn Strange, Dennis Moore and Iron Eyes Cody.

Montana Belle is directed by Allan Dwan, runs 82 minutes, is made by Fidelity Pictures, is released by RKO, is written by Horace McCoy and Norman S Hall, is shot by Jack Marta, is produced by Howard Welsch, and is scored by Nathan Scott.

It was originally filmed in Trucolor but there are also black and white prints still showing the Trucolor credit.

It was shot between late October and late November 1948 to be released by Republic. But in April 1949 Howard Welsch, who produced the movie for his company Fidelity Pictures, sold it to RKO for $875,000, about $225,000 above the cost and it premiered in Manhattan at the Palace Theatre on 7 November 1952.

Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,613

Link to Derek Winnert’s home page for more reviews: http://derekwinnert.com/