Black Bart (1948)

A respectable cattle rancher (Dan Duryea) near Sacramento in California has another identity, that of the notorious masked bandit Black Bart whose reputation was made by robbing Wells Fargo stagecoaches. He becomes infatuated with the famous Spanish dancer Lola Montez (Yvonne De Carlo) but so has his former partner (Jeffrey Lynn, LETTER TO THREE WIVES). There was a real Black Bart, of course, but this film is highly romanticized and fictionalized. The real Black Bart was married and there was no evidence he ever met Lola Montez, much less fell in love with her and Black Bart's fate in this version never really happened. That aside, this is actually a pleasant little western, beautifully shot in three strip Technicolor by Irving Glassberg (TARNISHED ANGELS). The romantic triangle makes a pleasant diversion from the standard outlaw activity and De Carlo, who has two dance numbers, was made for Technicolor. Despite the downbeat ending, the film has a sense of humor and the last shot is bound to make you chuckle. Directed by George Sherman. With Frank Lovejoy, John McIntire, Percy Kilbride and Ray Teal.