The Gunfight at Dodge City

The Gunfight at Dodge City is a 1959 DeLuxe Color western CinemaScope film. It was produced by the Mirisch Company, directed by Joseph M. Newman, co-written by Martin Goldsmith and Daniel B. Ullman and starred Joel McCrea as Bat Masterson.[1]

The Gunfight at Dodge City
Directed byJoseph M. Newman
Produced byWalter Mirisch
Written byDaniel B. Ullman
Screenplay byMartin Goldsmith
Daniel B. Ullman
StarringJoel McCrea
Julie Adams
John McIntire
Music byHans Salter
CinematographyCarl E. Guthrie
Edited byVictor Heerman
Production
company
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • May 1959 (1959-05)
Running time
81 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot summary

Bat Masterson sells his saloon to his friend Ben Townsend in order to make money hunting buffalo with Ben's young mentally ill brother Billy. A psychotic gunman named Dave Rudabaugh warns Bat that he shouldn't sell his pelts in Hays City. Bat ignores him to come to town where he outdraws a cavalry sergeant making him travel to Dodge City where his brother Ed is the City Marshal.

The upright Ed complains that the County Sheriff Jim Regan is corrupt and destroys his efforts to clean up the town. Ed is in love with Pauline Howard, the daughter of a church minister, but has delayed his marriage for unknown reasons. In the meantime, Bat enters a partnership with Lily, the proprietress of the Lady Gay saloon who faces ruin as the Sheriff and his deputies are attempting to force them out of business by first murdering her original partner, than frighting off her croupiers. Bat battles the Sheriff and his deputies, but after they murder his brother he becomes the City Marshal and has to choose between Pauline and Lily.

Cast

Production

Following the success of the Mirisch Productions Joel McCrea Western Wichita (1955), Walter Mirisch decided to make another Western with McCrea. Originally entitled The Bat Masterson Story, Mirisch retitled the film The Gunfight at Dodge City to emulate the success of Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957).[2]

References
  1. p.172 Rowan, Terry The American Western A Complete Film Guide Lulu.com
  2. p. 92 Mirisch, Walter I Thought We Were Making Movies, Not History Wisconsin Film Studies April 10, 2008
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