The Gunfight at Dodge City (1959)

After his brother the sheriff is murdered, Bat Masterson is elected to the job and is determined to find the killer and make Dodge City safe.

Director:

Joseph M. Newman

Writers:

Martin Goldsmith (screenplay), Daniel B. Ullman (idea and screenplay)

Stars:

Joel McCrea, Julie Adams, John McIntire

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joel McCrea	...	Bat Masterson
Julie Adams	...	Pauline Howard
John McIntire	...	Doc Sam Tremaine
Nancy Gates	...	Lily, Lady Gay Saloon Owner
Richard Anderson	...	Dave Rudabaugh
James Westerfield	...	Rev. Howard
Walter Coy	...	Ben Townsend
Don Haggerty	...	Sheriff Jim Regan, Dodge City
Wright King	...	Billy Townsend
Harry Lauter	...	City Marshal Ed Masterson

Storyline

Bat Masterson doesn't look for trouble, but he doesn't walk away from it. When an army sergeant in Hays City tries to kill Bat and dies for his trouble, Bat heads for Dodge City where Ed, his brother, is city marshal and a candidate for county sheriff running against the corrupt Regan. Bat buys a share in a local saloon, partnering with the widow Lily. Then, after an ambush, Bat finds himself a candidate for sheriff and the heir to Ed's intentions toward Pauline, a minister's daughter. Can the upright but not always law-abiding gunslinger and saloon owner become a lawman and settle down? Or will trouble keep finding him?

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Plot Keywords:

bat masterson | saloon | ambush | daughter | minister | 

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Taglines:

"I Like Fillies When They Scream And Fight!"

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Bat Masterson Story

Filming Locations:

Melody Ranch - 24715 Oak Creek Avenue, Newhall, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mirisch Corporation, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Despite the title, the climactic gunfight takes place in a different (and real) Kansas cattle town, Hays City.

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Goofs

The man who bought Bat's saloon is Ben Townsend. After changing the marquee, it says Ben Thompson.

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Quotes

Doc Sam Tremaine: They say you deal blackjack with three fingers... thumb, index, and trigger.

User Reviews

Mediocre western

Just what the audience could expect from director Newman: a routine action-packed western with veteran Joel McCrea as the legendary Bat Masterson. It is not so much the story that makes this film worth watching, but the appearance of Timothy Carey (uncredited-unbelievable!) as one of villain Haggerty's henchmen.