Dodge City (1939)

It's 1872 Kansas and the cattle town of Dodge City is a corrupt and lawless town run by a thug (Bruce Cabot) and his gang which has its decent citizens living in fear. But when a trail boss (Errol Flynn) reluctantly takes over as the new sheriff, the gang won't take it lying down. Directed by Michael Curtiz, this was Flynn's first western and the seventh teaming of Flynn and Olivia De Havilland (they would go on to do four more). It's an agreeable and efficient western, handsomely shot in three strip Technicolor by Sol Polito (SERGEANT YORK) and once again, the Flynn/De Havilland chemistry is strong. It's unlikely to make anyone's great westerns list however. But there's a certain comfort in the familiarity of the genre's cliches as it dutifully goes through its paces. The bland score is by Max Steiner. With Ann Sheridan (underutilized), Alan Hale, Victor Jory, Gloria Holden, Frank McHugh and Henry Travers.