Released - May, 1943 

Directed By - William A. Wellman

Starring – Henry Fonda (Gil Carter), Dana Andrews (Donald Martin), Mary Beth Hughes (Rose Mapen/Rose Swanson), Anthony Quinn (Juan Martinez), Harry Morgan (Art Croft).

Description – Two drifters, Gil Carter and Art Croft), ride into the town of Bridger’s Wells, Nevada and head for Darby’s Saloon. The mood inside is unusually quiet due to a rash of cattle rustling. The towns residents are obsessed with catching the thieves and cast a suspicious eye on the two strangers.

Shortly after their arrival, a man rides excitedly into town to announce that a local rancher has been murdered. A posse is immediately formed to find the murderer’s who the town assume to also be the cattle rustlers. Gil and Art join in with the posse.

Later that evening, in the Ox-Bow Canyon, the posse finds three men sleeping and in possession of what they believe to be stolen cattle. With the addition of a little more circumstantial evidence the posse soon becomes a lynch mob.

Mob rule has now taken over.

NOTABLE: The Ox-Bow Incident received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.

In 1998 this motion picture was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

Star Henry Fonda, while under contract to 20th Century Fox, was generally unhappy with the roles he was given. There were two exceptions; this role in The Ox-Bow Incident and his role in The Grapes of Wrath.

The Hays Office was initially reluctant in giving their approval of the films script. They did not like the idea that it appeared that the sheriff condoned the idea of a lynching.

Personal Note: A terrific western with a disturbingly vivid portrayal of the terror of mob rule. Thought-provoking, well acted, and a fine script make this a movie that can be enjoyed by everyone and not just fans of the Western genre. 

The Ox-Bow Incident

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Released – January, 1942 

Directed By - Raoul Walsh

Starring – Errol Flynn (George Armstrong Custer), Olivia de Havilland (Elizabeth Bacon), Arthur Kennedy (Ned Sharp), Charley Grapewin (California Joe), Anthony Quinn (Crazy Horse).

Description – The life of George Armstrong Custer is told from his early days at West Point, his experiences in the Civil War, and his ultimate fate at Little Big Horn.

Flynn portrays Custer as a dashing, fun-loving figure who prefers honor and glory over money. Corrupt politicians have brought about an Indian war in order to gain their land. With the lives of all white settlers in the area at risk, General Custer and his men make their valient last stand in order to prevent the slaughter.

NOTABLE: This was the last of eight films pairing Errol Flynn with Olivia de Havilland and proved to be one of the highest grossing films of the year.

Usually portrayed as the last to die at Little Big Horn, Custer may have actuall been one of the first killed.

During the battle of the Little Big Horn only 16 of the extras were actually Native Americans; the rest were Fillipino’s.

Personal Comment: Despite historical inaccuracies this is a very enjoyable film due to the huge appeal of Errol Flynn in just about any kind of action adventure lead role. One fact that was accurate was Custer’s sympathy for Native Americans and his dislike of President Grant’s Indian policy

They Died With Their Boots On

The Errol Flynn Signature Collection, Vol. 1 (Captain Blood / The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex / The Sea Hawk / They Died with Their Boots On / Dodge City / The Adventures of Errol Flynn)

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Released – September, 1940 

Directed By - William Wyler

Starring – Gary Cooper (Cole Harden), Walter Brennan (Judge Roy Bean), Doris Davenport (Jane Ellen Mathews), Fred Stone (Caliphet Mathews), Forrest Tucker (Wade Harper).

Description – Accused of stealing a horse, Cole Harden is facing his own hanging.  Luckily, he takes advantage of Judge Roy Bean’s facination with actress Lily Langtry and manages to talk his way out of hanging.

When Harden comes to the aid of some struggling homesteaders he finds himself going against the Judge once again, only this time he might not be so lucky.

NOTABLE: This motion picture won an Oscar for Walter Brennan as Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and was nominated for two more; Best Art Direction, Black and White, and Best Writing, Original Story.

Walter Brennan’s Oscar winning performance is considered one of the best in his long career.

Forrest Tucker made his movie debut in this film.

Buy Here The Westerner

The Gary Cooper Star Collection (The Westerner / Man of the West / Along Came Jones / Pride of The Yankees)

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