When the Daltons Rode (1940)

Director:

George Marshall

Writers:

Emmett Dalton (book)
Jack Jungmeyer (book)
(more)

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
Walter Soderling	...	Judge Lucius Thorndown [Judge Swain in credits]
Mary Ainslee	...	Minnie
Erville Alderson	...	Dist. Atty. Wade
Sally Payne	...	Annabella
June Wilkins	...	Suzy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Frank Austin	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Jack Baxley	...	(uncredited)
John Beck	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Stanley Blystone	...	Deputy on Train (uncredited)
Ed Brady	...	Deputy on Train (uncredited)
Al Bridge	...	(uncredited)
Edgar Buchanan	...	Narrator / Old-Timer (uncredited)
Mary Cassidy	...	Girl (uncredited)
Jack Clifford	...	Deputy on Train (uncredited)
Harry Cording	...	Rigby Henchman (uncredited)
Kernan Cripps	...	Freight Agent (uncredited)
Charles Dorety	...	Oklahoma Townsman (uncredited)
Robert Dudley	...	Pete Norris - Juror (uncredited)
Billy Engle	...	(uncredited)
Tom Fadden	...	Townsman (uncredited)
James Flavin	...	Annabella's Brother (uncredited)
William Gould	...	Deputy on Train (uncredited)
George Guhl	...	Deputy in Baggage Car (uncredited)
Lloyd Ingraham	...	Second Train Engineer (uncredited)
Joe King	...	Oklahoma Sheriff (uncredited)
Bob Kortman	...	Rigby Henchman (uncredited)
Ethan Laidlaw	...	Rigby Henchman (uncredited)
Tom London	...	Lyncher (uncredited)
Walter Long	...	Deputy on Train (uncredited)
Ian Maclaren	...	Crony #2 (uncredited)
Lafe McKee	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Charles McMurphy	...	Deputy Sheriff (uncredited)
Dorothy Moore	...	Girl (uncredited)
James C. Morton	...	Ed Pickett - Juror (uncredited)
Charles Murphy	...	Tim (uncredited)
Eddie Parker	...	Mason - Rigby Henchman (uncredited)
James Pierce	...	Deputy Sheriff (uncredited)
Russ Powell	...	First Train Engineer (uncredited)
Bob Reeves	...	Henchman (uncredited)
Henry Roquemore	...	Jim Osborne - Juror (uncredited)
Don Rowan	...	Annabella's Brother (uncredited)
Forrest Taylor	...	The Bailiff (uncredited)
Cyril Thornton	...	First Cronie (uncredited)
Pat West	...	Pete - Restaurant Counterman (uncredited)
Duke York	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
George Marshall

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Emmett Dalton		book "When the Daltons Rode"
Jack Jungmeyer		book "When the Daltons Rode" (as Jack Jungmeyer Sr.)
Harold Shumate		original screenplay

Original Music by
Frank Skinner

Cinematography by
Hal Mohr

Film Editing by
Edward Curtiss		(as Ed Curtiss)

Art Direction by
Jack Otterson

Set Decoration by
Russell A. Gausman		(as R.A. Gausman)

Costume Design by
Vera West

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Vernon Keays	....	assistant director

Art Department
Martin Obzina	....	associate art director

Sound Department
Bernard B. Brown	....	sound supervisor
Robert Pritchard	....	sound technician

Stunts
Yakima Canutt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons	....	stunts (uncredited)

Music Department
Charles Previn	....	musical director
Hans J. Salter	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Frank Skinner	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1940) (USA) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1947) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Realart Pictures (1950) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Comet Video (????) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

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:

Featured in Gunfighters of the Old West (1992) (V)

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