Being more familiar with Scott's 1950s westerns, I realised I hadn't seen this one. 'Ablaze with guns, guts and glory!' spouts the blurb, and certainly at least two of those apply. It's the old cattlemen v homesteaders routine again with the town of Abilene in the middle, or in the way. The main street has businesses on one side and saloons and gambling joints on the other. The shopkeepers despise the saloons, but welcome the income that they pick up from the visiting cowboys. The arrival of more and more homesteaders puts this arrangement in jeopardy. Town marshal Dan Mitchell (Scott) has to tread an uncompromising line in order to keep the peace.
These movies usually portray the cattlemen as bullies, and this one is no exception. Trail boss Ryker rides rough-shod (literally) through the farmers' lands and starts to tear the town apart. However, the townsfolk and homesteaders eventually come together and in solidarity force the rowdy element out to make a new start for Abilene.
The movie also provides a couple of romantic subplots. The marshal is sweet on store owner's daughter Sherry (Rhonda Fleming,) but is more attracted to saloon entertainer Rita (Ann Dvorak). Feminists will take offence at Mitchell's stated desire to get Rita into a bonnet and apron. Perhaps less at farmer Lloyd Bridges request to Sherry to join him as his wife in making the country a better place.
On an irksome note, there are too many songs by Rita. Dvorak seems to be an average singer and she wears a rather daring outfit, cut high on the thigh. Unfortunately she doesn't have the legs for it, and neither do the chorus girls. (For legs, see Jane Russell in Son of Paleface!). In lighter tone we have a comic turn from the ever present Edgar Buchanan as county sheriff Bravo Trimble, whose method of dealing with criminals us simply to avoid them! An old fashioned horse opera.
Review of Abilene Town
