Dennis Morgan is James Wylie, a gambler whose knack for making the cards fall his way sometimes leads to shooting scrapes.
Webb Yancey offers him a chance to put all his trouble with the law in the past, if he’ll head to Cheyenne and locate the Poet.
Seems someone has been emptying Wells Fargo strong boxes. When they’re opened, the money is gone. Instead, there’s a poem inside, taunting the agency.
Wylie accepts the assignment. After all, there’s a $20,000 bounty on the Poet’s head.
He shares the stage to Cheyenne with two lovely ladies — Ann Kincaid (Jane Wyman), who’s heading West to meet her husband, and saloon singer Emily Carson, who’s heading there at the bequest of a well-off male acquaintance.
Turns out Wylie’s in for a couple of big surprises.
The Sundance Kid and his gang are also after the Poet because of his tendency to get to the strong boxes before they do.
And the husband Ann Kincaid is meeting is none other than the Poet, though she insists she didn’t realize that when they wed and wouldn’t mind seeing him caught by the law.
Problem is, some of her actions seem to indicate otherwise.
Dennis Morgan as gambler James Wylie, being talked into helping Wells Fargo search for The Poet in Cheyenne (1947)
Jane Wyman as Ann Kincaid, unsure whether she can trust husband Ed Landers in Cheyenne (1947)
Review:
An entertaining film thanks to delightful performances by Janis Paige as the clueless saloon singer and Jane Wyman as the wife of the film’s villain.
The search for the Poet and the conflict with Sundance’s gang is less interesting than the interplay between those ladies and Morgan.
Jane Wyman’s Ann Kincaid is a woman torn. She doesn’t want to see her husband harmed, but she doesn’t want to see Wylie become victim to her husband’s dirty deeds either.
In fact, to protect him, she pretends to be his wife for a large portion of the film, which winds up being lighter in tone than you’d expect from a Raoul Walsh Western.
In terms of action, there’s an extremely well filmed stagecoach chase that leads to a final showdown between Wylie, pretending to be the Poet, and the Sundance gang.
Janis Paige as Emily Carson, trying to remember where she and Wylie met before in Cheyenne (1947)
Bruce Bennett, vowing to end his thievery and take Ann away from Cheyenne in Cheyenne (1947)
Directed by:
Raoul Walsh
Cast:
Dennis Morgan … James Wylie
Jane Wyman … Ann Kincaid
Janis Paige … Emily Carson
Bruce Bennett … Ed Landers
Alan Hale … Fred Durkin
Arthur Kennedy … The Sundance Kid
John Ridgely …. Chalkeye
Barton MacLane … Webb Yancey
Tom Tyler … Pecos
Bob Steele … Bucky
John Compton … Limpy Bill
John Alvin … Single Jack
Monte Blue … Timberline
Ann O’Neal … Miss Kittredge
Tom Fadden … Charlie
Britt Wood … Swamper
Runtime: 99 min.
Arthur Kennedy as Sundance Kid, tired of empty strong boxes and waiting for a cut from The Poet in Cheyenne (1947)
Barton MacLane as Webb Yancey, convincing James Wylie he should help Wells Fargo find the Poet in Cheyenne (1947)
Memorable lines:
Saloon girl Emily Carson: “Say where did we …”
James Wylie: “Don’t you remember?” He raises his eyes, indicating they met in one of the upstairs rooms.
Emily, thinking he’s a customer who somehow slipped her mind: “Oh, yes.”
James Wylie: “As soon as I got through, I folded it up and put it in the corner.”
Emily Carson chokes on her coffee.
Wylie: “How long have you had it?”
Emily, now thoroughly confused. “I don’t know.”
Wylie: “It’s a cute little trick. I was never in one like that before.”
Ann Kincaid to James Wylie: “Only a tenderfoot or a fool would walk into a trap like that. Which one are you?”
James Wylie, pretending to be The Poet and Ann’s husband: “Say, what’ll happen if you’re other husband walks in here tonight.”
Ann Kincaid: “Nothing. He’s a nice fellow. He’ll simply put his arm around you neck. And break it.”
Wylie: “Thanks. I’ll sleep with one eye open.”
Ann, forced to share her home with Wylie: “What do you think I’m going to do?”
Two gang members ready for a showdown with the man who says he’s The Poet in Cheyenne (1947)
Alan Hale as Cheyenne second deputy Fred Durkin, listening to Wylie’s plans for catching The Poet in Cheyenne (1947)
Emily Carson: “How’d you like my song last night?”
James Wylie: “Fine. Only I liked your outfit better.”
Sundance man: “I still say they ain’t married. Did you see him tickle her chin? Married men don’t do that.”
Second Sundance man: “No. Not to their own wives.”
James Wylie: “You know, Annie, I can’t figure it out. You’re half devil and half angel.”
Ann Kincaid: “Most women are, Jim. That’s the sugar in the coffee.”
Wylie: “But I like both of them straight. So get in the coach and keep moving.”
Ann O’Neal as boarding house owner Miss Kittridge, caught by surprise when told Ann has a husband in Cheyenne (1947)
Jane Wyman as Ann Kincaid and Dennis Morgan as James Wylie, fearful their ruse is about to be discovered in Cheyenne (1947)
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