Wyoming (1947) Poster

(1947)

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7/10
Another Range Feud Western, but a good one.
bkoganbing27 June 2011
Wyoming was a Bill Elliott film that all of Republic's stars had to do, one with Vera Hruba Ralston who was Mrs. Herbert J. Yates. The only one I think that missed that co-star was Roy Rogers. This was a big budget item for 1947 the kind of film that Yates normally reserved for his biggest contract star, John Wayne who did a few films with Vera.

The plot goes over the same ground that MGM's Tracy/Hepburn classic Sea Of Grass did and also the John Wayne film McLintock although that one in a comic vein. Elliott, his wife Vera, and her aunt from the old country Maria Ouspenskaya are going west and Gabby Hayes takes them in. He and Elliott hit it off so well that Elliott becomes his partner in a ranch that eventually becomes the local Ponderosa. Ralston dies in childbirth giving birth to a daughter also played by Vera Hruba Ralston. She keeps the accent because Elliott sends her to school in Europe with Ouspenskaya as a chaperon.

When she returns there's a range feud brewing. Land that Elliott and other cattlemen have been using for grazing has been now claimed by homesteaders who are being organized and led by a bottom feeding shyster attorney in Albert Dekker.

When Ralston comes back she gets herself involved with Elliott's foreman John Carroll. But Carroll and Elliott don't see eye to eye on how to deal with the situation. Back in New Orleans Carroll was an attorney who was disbarred in Louisiana, but still has a reverence for the law. Elliott only knows the law of the six gun and Dekker is trying to push him into an all out war, especially with Wyoming about to become a state.

Wyoming is one of Bill Elliott's better westerns, it has a nice cast of familiar western names who know their way around a movie set corral. The plot is more complex than you usually find in a Republic B western. All in all a good introduction to cowboy hero Wild Bill Elliott.
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7/10
Action-packed Republic western--with a plot that's well-seasoned corn
bumper-728 December 2005
Director Joe Kane's experienced hand guides a strong cast through the familiar western plot about cattlemen versus squatters. Stalwart rancher William Elliott takes on trouble-making newcomer Albert Dekker.

Elliott's cause is aided by George "Gabby" Hayes, John Carroll and Vera Ralston, while Dekker's cronies include Grant Withers, Harry Woods and Dick Curtis.

WYOMING's assets are vigorous action sequences--especially notable is a down and dirty fistfight between Elliott and Dekker; top calibre black and white photography by John Alton; fine villainy by Dekker.

While not as intriguing as the westerns Elliott would do later (in 1949 and 1950) at Republic Pictures, this is a solid "B" effort worthy of your time and attention.
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7/10
Vera (Hruba) Ralston in a Dual Role?
bsmith555221 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
"Wyoming" is another of Republic's excellent "A" westerns. Former "B" star William "Wild Bill" Elliott" stars as Charles Alderson a powerful cattle rancher trying to keep out the nesters. He stars along with studio head Herbert J. Yates' main squeeze Vera (Hruba) Ralston a former international figure skater who as an actress made a great skater.

Alderson and his wife (Ralston) and their housekeeper Maria (Maria Ouspenskaya) are travelling to Wyoming Territory to start a cattle ranch. En route, they are attacked by Indians who are driven off by nearby rancher Windy Gibson (Gabby Hayes). Gibson and Alderson become fast friends and form a partnership. Alderson's wife dies in childbirth and he ultimately sends his daughter Karen off to Europe with Maria for her education and to explain Ralston's thick accent when she returns with the equally thick accented Maria. During their absence (several years), Alderson and Gibson have built a large prosperous cattle ranch and Wyoming has now become a state..

The Homestead Act allows for average farmers to get a 160 acre grant to set up shop on ranchers free ranges. Bad guy Duke Lassiter (Albert Dekker), a cattle rustler arrives on the scene with his brother and gunman Joe Sublette (Grant Withers) and sets his sights on Alderson and Gibson's cattle. He tries to fire up the nesters against Alderson who vows to keep the nesters off of his range.

Lassiter fences off some of the range and during the winter when he prevents Alderson's cattle from moving to their winter feeding grounds, Alderson is forced into a confrontation with Lassiter and his brother Ed (Dick Curtis). Alderson kills Ed Lassiter and is brought to trial before the Judge (Paul Harvey). Lassiter attempts to have Alderson found guilty of murder. With the help of Sheriff Niles (Roy Barcroft) and the small ranchers, Alderson is found innocent.

In the meantime, Karen has fallen for Alderson's foreman Glenn Forrester (John Carroll) who cautions Alderson from using violence against the settlers. The local hotel/saloon is taken over by Lila Regan (Virginia Grey) who takes an interest in Alderson.

After a raid on Alderson's cattle, Windy is shot down and killed by Sublette. Alderson vows revenge for the death of his partner. He recruits a gang of nasties headed up by Ben Jackson (Harry Woods) but Jackson is in reality on Lassiter's side. Forrester keeps trying to avert a range war. Karen supports him against her father. Finally, it's time for the showdown and...............................

There's a veritable who's who of western players in the cast of this picture. In addition to those named above we have in smaller roles: Trevor Bardette, Tom London, George Chesebro, Eddie Acuff, Charlie King, Rex Lease, Char;les Middleton, Marshal Reed, Glenn Strange and Eddie Waller among others. Republic often used their "B" players in supporting roles in their "A" pictures. And, watch for a young Ben Johnson as one of Alderson's cowhands leaning against the house.
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A fine, action packed, fast-paced Western.
bux13 June 2000
Done in the tradition of "Red River (1946) this is the story of the Land Baron Vs the small ranchers, but this time from the Land Baron's point of view. The fine supporting cast features Maria Ouspenskaya, movie buffs will recall her as Malvea the gypsy in many classic horror films. The direction is smooth and Elliott is in top form as the anti-hero. The fist-fight scene gives proof that Elliott is no "Mr. Nice Guy" as he bites, thumbs, gouges, knees and kicks his way to victory. The ending is predictable, but the fun is in getting there. This is a good one!
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Poor man's John Ford or Howard Hawks
searchanddestroy-128 February 2023
Joseph Kane was used to this kind of westerns, the trademark of Republic pictures, and also Paramount, using old fashioned schemes and characters. There is nothing exceptional here, everything is predictable but never boring. Wild Bill Elliot is as usual, boring but quite good, John Caroll also at his place, and Vera Ralston is anything but unavoidable in a Republic studio production; her husband was no one else than Herbert J Yates, president executive of the studio. So this western is at least not a music hall western, a sort of westerns taking place mostly indoors, in dancing halls, in San Francisco, instead of rocky mountains, forests, deserts or valleys as so many Republic westerns were. For western addicts only, old fashioned fans. Albert Dekker excellent as the villain, and George Gabby Hayes exquisite, as usual.
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