When the Daltons Rode (1940)

Director:

George Marshall

Writers:

Emmett Dalton (book)
Jack Jungmeyer (book)

Release Date:

1 February 1941 (Sweden)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

Young lawyer Tod Jackson arrives in pioneer Kansas to visit his prosperous rancher friends the Daltons...

Plot Keywords:

Train | Based On Book | Character Name In Title

Cast

Randolph Scott	...	Tod Jackson
Kay Francis	...	Julie King
Brian Donlevy	...	Grat Dalton
George Bancroft	...	Caleb Winters
Broderick Crawford	...	Bob Dalton
Stuart Erwin	...	Ben Dalton
Andy Devine	...	Ozark Jones
Frank Albertson	...	Emmett Dalton
Mary Gordon	...	Ma Dalton
Harvey Stephens	...	Rigby
Edgar Dearing	...	Sheriff (as Edgar Deering)
Quen Ramsey	...	Clem Wilson
Dorothy Granger	...	Nancy (as Dorothy Grainger)
Robert McKenzie	...	Photographer (as Bob McKenzie)
Fay McKenzie	...	Hannah

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Notorious Bettie Page (2005)

Early western about the bad guy myth - with good stunt work!

Another new DVD release from the vaults of Universal that's about as action-packed as JESSE JAMES (1939), which also came out around the same time. This too, carries the same western myth that Hollywood has about certain outlaws. If society had only treated them fairly, then they wouldn't have become outlaws in the first place.

The Daltons have been railroaded off of their farm and turned into outlaws by greedy land speculators who manipulate the law to suit their own ends. So begins the chase out of the courthouse, through the woods and onto a moving train in order to make good their escape. It even has some good Yakima Canutt stunt work involving a stagecoach robbery.

Randolph Scott and his love interest Kay Francis really are on the sidelines as those who are siding with the Daltons in spirit, even though they aren't out robbing bank and trains with them. They're really are only supporting players here even though they headline in the credits.

The real star is Broderick Crawford who despite his New York Bronx accent, really shines here as the lead Dalton, even scene-stealing away from Brian Donlevy who takes a back seat. This movie is Crawford's show, no question about it.

Director George Marshall has done better with oaters like DESTRY RIDES AGAIN (1939) and Texas (1941), but this film is no slouch, either. There's not a lot of deep plot characterizations but if you want 40s action that moves along pretty nicely, then you can't go wrong here.

6½ out of 10