Dodge City (Warner Bros.) (1939)

A PHOTOMONTAGE OF THE STARS, ACTION AND SPECTACLE THAT IS "DODGE CITY," WARNER BROS.’ TECHNICOLOR EPIC (First Announcement ) Errol Flynn In ‘Dodge City’ Technicolor Epic, Coming Soon Warner Bros. Film Tells Thrilling Story Of Lawlessness On Western Frontier; De Havilland and Sheridan Among Stars The roughest and toughest cattle town in the history of the western frontier is the setting for the vigorous tale of virile adventure told in “Dodge City,” the Warner Bros. production in Technicolor, starring Errol Flynn, which opens next Friday at the Strand Theatre. Other members of what is undoubtedly the most notable cast ever assembled for a picture dealing with western pioneer days inelude Olivia de Havilland, Ann Sheridan, Bruce Cabot, Frank MeHugh, Alan Hale, John Litel, Henry Travers, Henry O'Neill, Victor Jory, William Lundigan and Guinn “Big Boy” Williams. Aside from its brilliant and obviously impressive cast, the picture is distinguished by its magnificent and authentic re-creation of the scene and the times depicted. The lavish detail with which the Dodge City of the 1870’s and the great plains which surrounded it are vividly brought to life on the screen make it easily believable that, as reported, the studio spent a million and a half dollars on the production. In brilliant, natural Technicolor, the vast production is said to give the spectators the feeling that history is being relived before their eyes. Putting the manifestly British Errol Flynn into a tale of frontier America may seem a little strange to those who are not too well acquainted with the actual history of the old west. As a matter of fact, the annals of those times record more than one venturesome Briton who acquired distinction as a he-man in a region where a man without virility and courage could not long survive. The story of “Dodge City” is laid in the period when this little community in the southwestern corner of Kansas, as the northern terminus of the famous old Chisholm Trail and the western terminus of the Santa Fe Railway, became the west’s greatest cattle shipping center. At the opening of the picture, a great herd of longhorn steers is shown moving up the Chisholm Trail toward Dodge City, and the trail boss of the big herd is Errol] Flynn, an Irish soldier-of-fortune who had drifted out west after fighting for the South in the Civil War. Dodge City, when Flynn arrives there, is under thes domina tion of a group of murderous thugs headed hy Bruce Cabot. Right after Flynn’s arrival he has an angry encounter with Cabot and the small but brave ) Mat 101—15¢ ERROL FLYNN: law-abiding element, impressed by Flynn's temerity, urges Flynn to become sheriff and help clean up the town. He declines, but a few days later, after the man to whom he has sold his cattle is murdered and Cabot causes the death of a child by starting a runaway in front of his saloon-gambling hall, he changes his mind. Meanwhile, McHugh, the crusading editor of the little town paper, has uncovered evidence which, he announees, will convict one of Cabot’s henchmen of the murder of a eattleman. He says he will turn over his evidence to the new sheriff, but before he can do so, he too is murdered. Olivia, who has been working on the paper, takes over the murdered editor’s work, and she and the new sheriff finally get enough evidence to arrest the Cabot lenchman whom McHugh had accused of murder. Then the cleanup campaign really begins. The exciting plot of the piecture was an original screen play by Ro vert Buckner and the production was direeted by Michael Curtiz, who stands at the top of all Hollywood directors of action and adventure pictures because of his previous work on such pro ductions as “The Adventures of Robin Hood,” “The Charge of the Light Brigade” and “Captain Blood.” The supporting cast of featured players and thousands of extras is one of the best assembled for an important picture this year. Teamed with Flynn in the lead is Olivia de Havilland who has become identified as the screen sweetheart of the adventuring Irishman through a _ parade of hits. Starting with “Captain Blood” a few years ago, the star pair continued through such smash films as “Charge of the Light Brigade’’, ‘‘Four’s A Crowd,” and “The Adventures of Robin Hood.” Alan Hale, who acted as Flynn’s right-hand man, “Little John,” in “Robin Hood,” has a similar role in “Dodge City,” playing another venturesome cattleman from the plains of Texas. “Big Boy’ Williams forms the third member of the triumvirate which succeeds in making an impressionable dent on the lawlessness that seourged the up-andcoming community of Dodge. Bruce Cabot and Victor Jory play the desperadoes, while Ann Sheridan, John Litel, Henry Travers and Gloria Holden round out the stellar cast. The picture has already attracted a wealth of comment all over the country as a result of the tremendous world premiere held right in Dodge City, Kansas, immediately prior to its general release. A special train bearing the stars of the picture, production staff, film executives, newspaper and magazine writers arrived in Dodge City where a great civic festival had already been pro claimed for the week. Short Advance Announcements ‘Dodge City’ Coming ‘*Dodge City,’’ a Warner Bros. produetion in Technicolor, starring Errol Flynn, is scheduled as the next attraction at the Strand The atre, and will open there on Fri day. A blood and thunder story of the cattle country of the 1870’s, it shows the growth of the famous Kansas town from a tiny settle ment to a great trading center. Michael Curtiz directed from ian original screen play by Robert Buckner. Featured with Flynn are Olivia de Havilland, Aan Sheridan, Bruce Cabot, Alan Hale, Frank McHugh, Henry ‘Travers, John Litel, Victor Jory, William Lundi gan, Guinn Williams, Bobs Wat son, Gloria Holden, and a cast of hundreds of extra players. a Errol Flynn Starred Errol Flynn, hero of some of the screen’s most thrilling adven tures, will be seen for the first time as 2 Western hero in ‘‘ Dodge City,’’ the huge Technicolor pro duction which will make its local debut at the Strand Theatre on Friday. The turbulent days of the brawling west of the 1870’s is the colorful background against which Flynn projects his virile and ad venturous personality. Olivia de Havilland has the romantic lead opposite him and others in the huge cast include Ann Sheridan, Bruce Cabot, Alan Hale, Frank MeHugh, Henry Travers and Vic tor Jory. Robert Buckner wrote the original screen. play and Michael Curtiz direeted. Color Epic Of West With a cast of hundreds, topped by Errol Flynn and Olivia de Hav illand, ‘‘Dodge City,’’ Warner Bros.’ Technicolor epic of the old West will open at the Strand The autre on Friday. A lusty drama of the days when there was no law west of Chicago, it is crammed with thrilling action and colorful romance. Michael Curtiz, famous for his action pictures, directed from the screen story written by Robert Buckner. Others in the cast besides Flynn and Miss de Havilland, include Ann Sheridan, Bruce Cabot, Alan Hale, Frank MeHugh, John Litel, Henry Trav ers, Victor Jory and a host of supporting players and extras.