Evelyn Keyes is Hannah Brockway, a red-haired beauty who plans to marry Sam Martin (Willard Parker), town doc in Prairie Dog, and settle down to a quiet life in the white house he’s having built right over the hill. That’s if she can get over her qualms about him leaving her behind with barely a glance as soon as there’s a medical emergency.
Then the stage on which she’s riding is held up by the notorious Dembrow gang. Just as the bandits are robbing the passengers, a rider descends from the hills and rescues the stage, sending the Dembrows fleeing. The young man (Larry Parks) introduces himself as Ben Taylor; he’s really Ben Dembrow, the one son who strayed from father Kirk (Edgar Buchanan) and who is determined to live a lawful life.
Hannah finds herself attracted to the handsome lad and visits him often while he’s working to help finish the home she’s supposed to live in with Doc Martin. It’s his way of paying off a medical bill from when the Doc treated his very ill mom.
Then Taylor’s true identity is revealed. Doc convinces him to turn himself in, promising a fair trial. But it soon becomes clear that some folks around Prairie Dog are more interested in hanging a Dembrow — any Dembrow — than they are in justice.
The rest of the Dembrow gang show up to break up the trial and rescue Ben. Hannah, loving the excitement a life with Ben offers, rides along. But once pregnant, she tires of life on the run. Who does she turn to for help? Doc Sam Martin, of course.
Review:
Nice looking color film, pretty well done, and certainly unusual in that it focuses on a lovely young woman who leaves behind the good, wholesome doctor for a guy who wants to be good, but winds up choosing the wrong side of the law.
Ben Dembrow’s brothers are played by Forrest Tucker and Jim Bannon; Willard Robertson plays Hannah’s well-off father, who disowns her once she rides off with the outlaws.
The same year, Keyes and Parks also co-starred in the “The Jolson Story;” that performance earned an Academy Award nomination for Parks.
Haven’t heard of him? Perhaps that’s because he confessed to once being affiliated with the Communist Party during the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings, effectively ending his film career.
Keyes also had a key role in 1943’s “The Desperadoes,” which also starred Glenn Ford, Randolph Scott and Claire Trevor. But she was always best known as one of Scarlett O’Hara’s sisters in “Gone with the Wind.” Her four marriages included unions with directors Charles Vidor (not to be confused with King Vidor) and John Huston.
Directed by:
George Sherman
Cast:
Evelyn Keyes … Hannah Brockway
Willard Parker … Dr. Sam Martin
Larry Parks … Ben Dembrow
Edgar Buchanan … Kirk Dembrow
Jim Bannon … Cash Dembrow
Forrest Tucker … Frank Dembrow
Willard Robertson … Nathan Brockway
Frank Sully … Link
Ludwig Donath … Jackorski
Paul E. Burns … Alkali Kid
Addison Richards … Joe (sheriff)
Runtime: 88 min.
Memorable lines:
Ben Dembrow to bandit leader Kirk Dembrow: “Folks who don’t do what they’re told get hurt.”
Dr. Sam Martin: “Joe, I gave Ben my word he was going to get a fair trial.”
Joe, the sheriff: “Fair trial. Sure. Sure. He’ll get one.”
Dr. Sam: “Goodnight, Ben.”
Joe looks at Ben when Dr. Sam leaves the jail: “Fair trial, huh? Well, Mr. Ben “Innocent” Taylor Dembrow, I bet there was never a man west of the Mississippi hanged as fair as you’re going to be.”
Ben Dembrow: “Dad always says what’s in your blood will come out in the flesh, no matter what you do.”
Ben Dembrow: “I’m not getting a fair trial.”
Judge: “What, man? We’ve been here three days, and we haven’t hung you yet.”
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