In 1874, after noticing the total lawlessness in Wichita, Wyatt Earp reluctantly accepts the Marshal's job and runs into the worst local troublemakers.In 1874, after noticing the total lawlessness in Wichita, Wyatt Earp reluctantly accepts the Marshal's job and runs into the worst local troublemakers.In 1874, after noticing the total lawlessness in Wichita, Wyatt Earp reluctantly accepts the Marshal's job and runs into the worst local troublemakers.
- Awards
- 1 win
- Ben Thompson
- (as Robert Wilke)
- Bank Robber
- (uncredited)
- Saloon Madam
- (uncredited)
- Hal Clements
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- Daniel B. Ullman(story and screenplay)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaSam Peckinpah played a bit part as a bank teller.
- GoofsThey have Wyatt Earp meeting Bat Masterson in Wichita for the first time and Bartholemew calls himself Bat when introducing himself. Bat started using his shortened name later in life and they actually met their first time in Dodge City Kansas not Wichita per Bat's own memoirs.
- Quotes
Clint Wallace: [a solitary figure on horseback appears in the distance] What do you make of him, Ben?
Ben Thompson: Well, he's no Indian.
Clint Wallace: Could be a scout for some rustlers. This country's full of 'em.
Ben Thompson: He's headin' this way and he's not hidin'. He's probably some pilgrim looking for a free meal.
Clint Wallace: He's welcome to that. We're not takin' any chances.
Ben Thompson: Al, go out and check up on that rider.
Al: How much checkin up you want?
Ben Thompson: Make sure he's alone, that's all. If he has got a bunch behind him we'll know in plenty of time to be ready for him.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The First Texan (1956)
Wichita is an origin story, that of one Wyatt Earp (McCrea), the story is set before he gets to Dodge City, where apparently some famous gunfight occurred. From a narrative stand point it's a town tamer story, Earp arrives in a newly thriving Wichita, at this point he's a hunter of buffalo only. But as the cowboys converge on the town, and things turn very dark, Earp - a bastion of good and just righteousness - finds it impossible to continue in turning down the town superior's offers of becoming the town Marshal.
It's one of those Western movies that made Western movie fans become Western movie fans. A film you would have watched as a youngster and just bought totally into the good guy against the baddies central core. Of course as youngsters we wouldn't have cared a jot about thematics such as capitalism ruling over common sense, or metaphysical leanings ticking away, all while a genius director is composing shots and frames of great distinction. Hell! Even the intelligence and maturity in the writing would have escaped us, the dark passages merely incidents of no great concern...
Wichita is damn fine film making. OK! It isn't wall to wall action. Sure there is a good round of knuckles, a bit of trench warfare and the standard shoot-outs, but these are just conduits to smart and compelling human drama, richly performed by McCrea (brilliantly cast) and company. Tourneur, Ullman and Lipstein make sure there is no waste on the page or via location framing, the costuming authentic and pleasing, and of course the story itself, the set up of the iconic man himself, is as compelling as it is splendidly entertaining.
It be a traditional Western for the traditional Western fan. Nice! 8/10
- hitchcockthelegend
- Jan 2, 2016
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $2,400,000
- Runtime1 hour 21 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 2.55 : 1
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