Rory Calhoun is hard-living Brett Wade, a gambler, lady’s man and gunslinger who guns down Buddy Ferris to keep him from killing the town marshal.
That sets up an OK Corral type showdown with the rest of the Ferris clan. Wade and the McNair brothers come out on top, but Brett is wounded. At a doctor’s advice, he heads off to Colorado Springs for a quieter life and one that will hopefully restore his health.
On the stage trip West, he meets a pretty young lady named Rannah Hayes (Piper Laurie), who has a date at the altar in Socorro. Or so she tells Wade. In truth, she’s about to fulfill her father’s prophesy and become a girl-for-hire in Dick Braden’s saloon. At least when she isn’t busy being Braden’s girl.
Seeing Rannah headed down the same road he’s traveled, Wade decides to intervene. But a gunman with a grudge named Jimmy Rapp has followed him to Socorro, Braden is quickly developing a hatred for Wade and there’s a nervous sheriff (Edgar Buchanan) to deal with as well.
Rory Calhoun as Brett Wade, preparing for a showdown in Dawn at Socorro (1954)
Piper Laurie as Rannah Hayes, listening to a job offer from Dick Braden in Dawn at Socorro (1954)
Review:
Surprisingly well done Western, especially after an opening that seems to warn of a tired retelling of the Gunfight at the OK Corral with the characters bearing different names.
This might be the best of the Calhoun-led Westerns, and Piper Laurie turns in a fine performance as the reluctant saloon girl who’s been banished from her home by a father who thinks she’s a Jezebel.
Edgar Buchanan provides a few light-hearted moments thanks to his dialogue, and director Sherman and company throw in a neat little ending, too.
David Brian as Dick Braden, informing Rannah of her place in his saloon in Dawn at Socorro (1954)
Alex Nicol as Jimmy Rapp, a gunman who vows to get even with Brett Wade in Dawn at Socorro (1954)
Directed by:
George Sherman
Cast:
Rory Calhoun … Brett Wade
Piper Laurie … Rannah Hayes
David Brian … Dick Braden
Edgar Buchanan … Sheriff Cauthen
Alex Nicol … Jimmy Rapp
Lee Van Cleef … Earl Ferris
Skip Homier … Buddy Ferris
Richard Garland … Tom Ferris
Stanley Andrews … Old Man Ferris
James Millican … Marshal Harry McNair
Scott Lee … Deputy Vince McNair
Kathleen Hughes … Clare
Mara Corday … letty Diamond
Roy Roberts … Doc Jameson
Runtime: 80 min.
Edgar Buchanan as Sheriff Cauthen, nervous about Brett Wade’s presence in his town in Dawn at Socorro (1954)
Lee Van Cleef as Earl Ferris, out to avenge family members killed by Brett Wade in Dawn at Socorro (1954)
Memorable lines:
Brett Wade, to doctor: “I always figured the game would end with one well-placed bullet.”
Doctor: “Well, it still might. There are a lot of shooting days before Christmas.”
Brett Wade: “I expected to be carried out of Lordsberg, but, here I stand on my way to Colorado filled with wind instead of lead.”
Sheriff: “If you’re in town by sundown tomorrow, I’m going to throw you in jail.”
Jimmy Rapp: “On what charge?”
Sheriff: “Disturbing my peace of mind.”
Sheriff to Brett Wade: “Tell you what I’m gonna do Wade. The minute I get you on the train, I’m going home and finish off a whole quart of bourbon and go to bed. But until then, I’m going to stay awake, sober and nervous.”
Sheriff to Jimmy Rapp: “Let’s have your gun.”
Rapp: “I’m naked without it.”
Sheriff: “It’s all right. I won’t arrest you for being naked.”
Bystander: “Who’s coming after you?”
Brett Wade: “My past. Every dark, miserable day of it.”
Rory Calhoun as Brett Wade and Piper Laurie as Rannah Hayes meet on a train in Dawn at Socorro (1954)
Mara Corday as Lettie Diamond, an former flame enjoying a reunion with Brett Wade in Dawn at Socorro (1954)
Piper Laurie as Rannah Hayes, realizing her fate will be determined by a hand of cards in Dawn at Socorro (1954)
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