Young lawyer Tod Jackson arrives in pioneer Kansas to visit his prosperous rancher friends the Daltons, just as the latter are in danger of losing their land to a crooked development company. When Tod tries to help them, a faked murder charge turns the Daltons into outlaws, but more victims than villains in this fictionalized version. Will Tod stay loyal to his friends despite falling in love with Bob Dalton's former fiancée Julie?
Randolph Scott has an unusual role in When the Daltons Rode as he plays a suited lawyer and doesn't fire a gun. He tries to defend the Daltons when they get a false murder charge, but to no avail. Broderick Crawford takes more of the lead role as Bob Dalton and does a great job as the other cast members do. The first half is light, and in the second half there's plenty of action when Dalton become outlaws - great stunts, exciting chases and robberies. There are two impressive stunt work featuring Stagecoach- the second one is unique as the Daltons transfer from the top of the stage to the horses and then unhitch them. What follows is a long chase, a train robbery and the Daltons riding off the train via horses. Phew! Had to catch my breath with all this excitement. The pace is unrelentingly fast, under neath the light and action-packed veneer lies a tragic story. Mary Gordon as Ma Dalton emotes superbly and you do feel sorry for her. Andy Devine as Ozark lends some humour as a Casanova - the girls flock around him like bees around honey. It gives me some hope! I reckon this is one of the best outlaw/bank robbery westerns - probably the best one I have seen.
Randolph Scott has an unusual role in When the Daltons Rode as he plays a suited lawyer and doesn't fire a gun. He tries to defend the Daltons when they get a false murder charge, but to no avail. Broderick Crawford takes more of the lead role as Bob Dalton and does a great job as the other cast members do. The first half is light, and in the second half there's plenty of action when Dalton become outlaws - great stunts, exciting chases and robberies. There are two impressive stunt work featuring Stagecoach- the second one is unique as the Daltons transfer from the top of the stage to the horses and then unhitch them. What follows is a long chase, a train robbery and the Daltons riding off the train via horses. Phew! Had to catch my breath with all this excitement. The pace is unrelentingly fast, under neath the light and action-packed veneer lies a tragic story. Mary Gordon as Ma Dalton emotes superbly and you do feel sorry for her. Andy Devine as Ozark lends some humour as a Casanova - the girls flock around him like bees around honey. It gives me some hope! I reckon this is one of the best outlaw/bank robbery westerns - probably the best one I have seen.