BADLANDS OF DAKOTA (Universal, 1941), directed by Alfred E. Green, is a western featuring an all-star cast headed by the youthful Robert Stack. Though Stack later starred in the popular television series, "The Untouchables" (1959-1963), he was known during his early movie years as the young man who gave Deanna Durbin her first screen kiss in his motion picture debut in FIRST LOVE (Universal, 1939). While Stack's name alone in 1941 was not strong enough to make BADLANDS OF DAKOTA into a top-rated film, veteran actors Richard Dix and Frances Farmer became added attractions, giving this production some added appeal. Ann Rutherford, better known to many film historians as Polly Benedict in the "Andy Hardy" movie series, assumes loan-out assignment duties from MGM working opposite Stack playing the young girl who comes between two brothers.
FORWARD: "A few years after the War between the states - Dakota territory was given to the Sioux Indian nation and patrolled by the Seventh Cavalry under the command of General Custer. In 1874, gold was discovered and Custer was unable to keep out the hordes of white settlers who swarmed into the territory. Thus was born Deadwood, a red, raw town in a burned out gulch." Following brief scenes involving wagon trains traveling west and the building of the town called Deadwood, Speed (Andy Devine) is introduced as the master of ceremonies presenting some upcoming acts that are to be performed at the Bella Union, a saloon owned by Bob Holliday (Broderick Crawford). Bob's youngest brother, Jim (Robert Stack), takes advantage of those fearing Bob's rough exterior by cheating at cards and getting drunk at the bar. Having been in Deadwood for six months after being talked into staying by Bob, Bob decides to have his irresponsible brother do him a favor by heading back to their hometown of St. Louis to bring back with him Anne Grayson (Ann Rutherford), the girl Bob intends to marry. While Jim has known Anne during their childhood days, he is surprised finding the once homely little girl to be an attractive 22 year-old woman. During their venture home by riverboat, Jim first makes the acquaintance of a gambler by the name of James Butler Hickok, better known as "Wild Bill" Hickok (Richard Dix), and later falls in love with Anne, marrying her during the boat's stop at Fort Pierre. Disappointed by the news of their marriage given to him by Jane (Frances Farmer), who loves Bob (who only looks upon her as a business partner), Bob joins a group of bandits headed by Jack McCall (Lon Chaney Jr.) doing a series of stagecoach holdups while at the same time appoints his weakling brother as the new town marshal more out of for vengeance than as a favor to him.
The supporting cast also consists of Hugh Herbert ("Rocky" Flemmer, bartender/fire chief); Fuzzy Knight ("Hurricane" Harry); Addison Richards (George Armstrong Custer); Bradley Page (Chapman); and Samuel S. Hinds (Anne's hard-of-hearing Uncle Wilbur). Dwight Latin, Guy Bonher and Walter Carlson, credited as The Jesters, play musical entertainers performing such tunes as: "McNamara's Band," "We're Going to Have a Big Time Tonight" and "No One to Love." Of its cast members, Frances Farmer, billed simply as Jane, stands out as the character inspiration of Calamity Jane. Dressed in pants, buckskin clothes and western hat, her character is very much the tough talking, bar drinking and jealous nature Calamity Jane, and different style to the same character as portrayed by Jean Arthur in THE PLAINSMAN (Paramount, 1936). Unlike other movies about Calamity Jane's involvement with Wild Bill Hickok, BADLANDS OF DAKOTA shifts gears by having her more to the liking of Bob Holliday. Her involvement with Wild Bill Hickok, excellently played by Richard Dix, is barely existent here. Dix, sporting curly hair and mustache, is given little to do, which is surprising. His character is around long enough for attention, but other than gambling scenes, actually comes to Deadwood Gulch to find gold, and being more observant to Stack's activities than being a participant. Lon Chaney Jr., shortly before his achievement in horror films such as THE WOLF MAN (1941) and its sequels, plays a cattle thief known to Hickok for being the one who shot the Kansas Kid in Abilene in the back. Willie Fung resumes his stereotypical role of a Chinese laundryman, while Glenn Strange is seen with Chaney as one of his henchmen.
Aside from Robert Stack playing a weakling turned into a town marshal, reminiscent but not superior to James Stewart's classic take in DESTRY RIDES AGAIN (Universal, 1939), BADLANDS OF DAKOTA doesn't disappoint with typical western action-packed style of gun shooting, Indian attacks, cavalry rescues, and so much more crammed into its 74 minutes. If the plot in general doesn't prove interesting, then the impressive casting of its players or runaway stagecoach scene involving Fuzzy Knight should.
Not seen regularly on commercial television since the 1970s (notably New Jersey station, Channel 68, in 1978), BADLANDS OF DAKOTA has turned up decades later on cable television's Encore Channel. Due to its latter day viewings, the film overall should be a worthy rediscovery for western film buffs or anyone unaware of its existence. Overlooking the plot toying with historic facts and characters, BADLANDS OF DAKOTA, with comedic overtones, is fast-paced and surprisingly well-done. (**1/2)
