"When the Daltons Rode" is a must film for a Western movie library for two reasons: the sizable cast of well-known actors (some of whom are not known for their roles in Westerns), and for action. It is an entertaining film with its good mix of humor, mostly in the fun-loving nature of exchanges among the Daltons, and in the very action-packed last half. The latter includes scenes of great daring that involved considerable stuntman work. Four and five men jumping from a stage coach onto its horse team; men jumping onto the roof of a moving train from a low cliff above; men jumping off a moving train saddled on horses. Reviewers note the early work of the great stuntman and later action scenes director, Yakima Canutt, in scenes that are also performed in other Westerns. The sheer number of these daring scenes in this film put it ahead of so many others for outstanding action.
The movie credits open with acknowledgment that the story is based on myths and tales of the Daltons, some of which were in a book by Emmett Dalton. That the Daltons had been on both sides of the law – as sworn peace officers, and as outlaws, is not fiction. The details around their being driven from their law-abiding ways to outlaws, over sinister land-grabbing plots, are skimmed over; but such schemes are recorded for that period in the expanding West – particularly in the Kansas and Oklahoma territories. The romanticized escapades of the Daltons amid the injustice might be condoned by audiences with the film's humor relief; but the inglorious end for the gang brings the "fun" of their sprees to an abrupt end as well. So, justice is meted out for their bad ways that killed innocent people.
It is a fun movie to watch with a huge cast of known actors for the time. Randolph Scott, Andy Devine and Kay Francis mostly provided some good comedy scenes. The romance in the movie is rather lackluster and not of much substance for the plot. But, some others turned in excellent acting roles — Broderick Crawford, Brian Donlevy and Mary Gordon.
The movie credits open with acknowledgment that the story is based on myths and tales of the Daltons, some of which were in a book by Emmett Dalton. That the Daltons had been on both sides of the law – as sworn peace officers, and as outlaws, is not fiction. The details around their being driven from their law-abiding ways to outlaws, over sinister land-grabbing plots, are skimmed over; but such schemes are recorded for that period in the expanding West – particularly in the Kansas and Oklahoma territories. The romanticized escapades of the Daltons amid the injustice might be condoned by audiences with the film's humor relief; but the inglorious end for the gang brings the "fun" of their sprees to an abrupt end as well. So, justice is meted out for their bad ways that killed innocent people.
It is a fun movie to watch with a huge cast of known actors for the time. Randolph Scott, Andy Devine and Kay Francis mostly provided some good comedy scenes. The romance in the movie is rather lackluster and not of much substance for the plot. But, some others turned in excellent acting roles — Broderick Crawford, Brian Donlevy and Mary Gordon.