Jane Russell plays Belle Starr, who’s been rescued from the gallows by lovestruck Bob Dalton (Scott Brady).
He takes her back to a hideout run by Mac (Forrest Tucker) and Ringo (Jack Lambert), though they’re skeptical about having a woman — especially such a notorious woman — in camp.
Sure enough, it isn’t long before Mac and Bob are fighting over Belle. The Daltons eventually ride out to rob a well-heeled gambling palace known as the Bird Cage, leaving Belle, Mac and Ringo behind.
When a posse shows up shortly thereafter, the trio left behind figure they’ve been sold out.
They decide to rob the Bird Cage first. They grab some loot before the shooting starts, but miss out on the big prize, owner Tom Bradfield’s safe.
So Mac, Ringo and Belle return undercover. Belle dons a blonde wig and pretends to be a widow named Lucy Winters looking for a new adventure.
Before you know it, she’s had a run of luck at the gambling table and is part owner of the Bird Cage.
That, she figures, puts her in a perfect position to wrap Bradfield around her finger and plan a much larger robbery.
What none of the outlaws knows is that Bradfield has been offered $100,000 to help nab the Dalton gang, and that he recognizes Belle for who she is as soon as she sits down at his blackjack table.
What he didn’t count on is falling in love with the lovely young outlaw.
Jane Russell as Belle Starr, pretending to be a dance hall singer and gambler named Montana in Montana Belle (1952)
Scott Brady as Bob Dalton, the man who rescues Belle Starr from a hanging, then falls in love with her in Montana Belle (1952)
Review:
Mediocre. Jane does her best, riding and shooting with the guys in her cowboys duds, then going blonde, singing a couple of songs and filling out a few saloon gowns, quite nicely, of course.
But it’s tough to overcome a plot that has gang members going from hating one another one minute to becoming partners in a big robbery the next.
Then there’s Bradfield, who runs a rich gambling house, but give Jane half ownership of it for a measly $25,000 in gambling winnings, even though he knows she’s an outlaw.
Among the familiar faces, fans will recognize Andy Devine. He plays a drummer named Pete who sells information about potential holdups to the Dalton gang, until Bradfield comes along with a more enticing offer.
By the way, this film was shot in 1948 for release by Republic Pictures. But Howard Hughes at RKO bought the negative and didn’t release the movie until about four years later.
George Brent as Tom Bradfield, sharing his plans to lure the Dalton Gang into a $1 million trap in Montana Belle (1952)
Jack Lambert as Ringo and Forrest Tucket as Mac, the men who form a new gang with Belle after they think they’ve been double-crossed by the Daltons in Montana Belle (1952)
Directed by:
Allan Dwan
Cast:
Jane Russell .. Belle Starr
George Brent .. Tom Bradfield
Scott Brady … Bob Dalton
Forrest Tucker … Mac
Andy Devine … Pete Bivins
Jack Lambert … Ringo
Ray Teal … Emmett Dalton
Rory Mallinson … Grat Dalton
Mike Ragan … Ben Dalton
John Litel .. Matt Towner
Roy Barcroft … Jim Clark
Ned Davenport … Bank clerk
Dick Elliott … Jepta Rideout
Gene Roth … Marshal Ripple
Stanley Andrews … Marshal Combs
Runtime: 82 min.
Songs:
“Guilded Lilly” and “Man in the Moon”
both performed by Jane Russell
Mike Ragan as Ben Dalton and Ray Teal as Emmett Dalton, more than a bit anxious about having Belle Starr share their hideout in Montana Belle (1952)
Andy Devin as trader Pete Divins, the man who works with Tom Bradford to set a trap for the Dalton Gang in Montana Belle (1952)
Memorable lines:
Ringo, upon first seeing Belle: “Only trouble comes with squaw.” Then he spits.
Ringo to Belle: “Maybe Ringo wrong. You look like squaw. Ride, shoot like man.”
Belle Starr: “The law isn’t going to chase me from hole to hole like a rat. And they’re not going to try me for any killing I didn’t do.”
Mac to Belle: “Women are funny people. You stand here telling me you love Tom Bradfield and ask me not to plug him. You know I’d shoot 10 men to get you. Yep, you’re funny people.”
Jane Russell as Belle Starr, trying to figure out her next move with fellow outlaw Jim Clark (Roy Barcroft) in Montana Belle (1952)
Rory Mallinson as Grat Dalton, sharing the story of how brother Bob rescued Belle Starr from a noose in Montana Belle (1952)
John Litel as bank association representative Matt Towner, trying to figure out some way, any way to keep the Daltons from robbing banks in Montana Belle (1952)
George Brent as Tom Bradfield and Jane Russell as Belle Starr, getting closer during a buggy ride in Montana Belle (1952)
Scott Brady as Bob Dalon, in the hands of the law after a fit of jealousy over Belle Starr’s apparent affection for Tom Bradfield in Montana Belle (1952)
Jane Russell as Belle Starr, caught up in the robbery of yet another bank in Montana Belle (1952)>/strong>
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