Bandits are wreaking havoc in and around the town of Navajo, and rumors are the Dalton Gang is operating in the region.
Town leaders are demanding action, not knowing the mayor and sheriff are in cahoots with saloon owner / rancher Mike Leonard, who’s real name is Clint Dalton.
He’s the man behind the thievery, though when a sharp-shooting stranger shows up in his saloon, he begins spreading rumors that the man is Jess Dalton in order to create a diversion.
In truth, it’s Marshal Lash La Rue, arriving in town with his six-gun, his handy whip and his sidekick Fuzzy Q. Jones (Al St. John) to get to the bottom of the lawless behavior.
His skill with his pistol and his fists lands him a job as a card dealer for Leonard. And he might get some inside help as well.
Also working in the saloon is Joan Talbot, a Pinkerton agent posing as a saloon girl and trying her best to find out where Leonard is stashing all his stolen loot.
Lash La Rue, arriving in Navajo and being mistaken for a member of the Dalton gang in The Daltons’ Women (1950)
Al St. John as Fuzzy Q. Jones, Lash LaRue’s trusty sidekick in The Daltons’ Women (1950)
Review:
An odd little film. For instance, there’s that title. There are three primary females in the cast. Only one is in any way romantically linked to a Dalton.
That would be Jacqueline Fontaine, making her screen debut playing a character by the same name. But she spends more time flirting with a barfly known as Honest Hank than with anyone named Dalton.
In fact, most of the film’s publicity focused on a knock-down, drag-out catfight she has with fellow saloon girl May that’s sparked by the flirting.
It’s certainly the most memorable scene in the film. It also has absolutely nothing to do with the main plot. Heck, two of the participants — May and Honest Hank — didn’t even receive screen credit.
Padded by a number of song-and-dance routines and lots of dancing girls, the main storyline plays out pretty much like you’d expect from a film starring Lash La Rue.
Jack Holt as saloon owner Mike Leonard, really Clint Dalton in The Daltons’ Women (1950)
Tom Neal as the mayor, pretending to be honest while warning Leonard of possible problems in The Daltons’ Women (1950)
Directed by:
Thomas Carr
Cast:
Lash La Rue … Marshal Lash LaRue
Al St. John … Fuzzy Q. Jones
Jack Holt … Clint Dalton / Mike Leonard
Tom Neal … Mayor
Pamela Blake … Joan Talbot
Jacqueline Fontaine … Jacqueline Fontaine
Raymond Hatton … Sheriff Doolin
Lyle Talbot … Jim Thorne
Tom Tyler … Emmett Dalton
J. Farrell McDonald … Alvin
Terry Frost … Jess Dalton / Billy Saunders
Stanley Price … Adams, stage driver
Cliff Taylor … George, bartender
June Benbow … May, saloon girl
Archie Twitchell .. Honest Hank, barfly
Runtime: 77 min.
aka::
Dalton’s Women
Songs:
“The Right Kind of Love”
“Do It Over and Over Again”
performed by Jacqueline Fontaine
Jacqueline Fontaine as herself, turning the head of Honest Hank (Archie Twitchell) in The Daltons’ Women (1950)
June Benbow as May, willing to fight Jacqueline for her man in The Daltons’ Women (1950)
Memorable lines:
May of Jacqueline Fontaine: “She might have been fresh in Tombstone, but she’s sure stale in Navajo.”
Honest Hank: “Ah, you just ain’t got an ear for music.
May: “Listen, big boy, this is May. Remember? I staked out a claim on you.”
George, the bartender: “Hey, tin-horn, where were you when all the lead was flying?”
Lash LaRue: “I wouldn’t advise you to use that word tin-horn, Mr. Big Mouth. Your hands are full, and mine aren’t.”
Lash LaRue: “I don’t mind deliberate shootin’. But when lead is flying all over the place, it kind of makes me nervous.”
May, as Jacqueline sings to Honest Hank: “Take you claws off of him!”
Jacqueline: “He likes it.” Turning her attention to Honest Hank: “Don’t you, honey?”
May, after winning her catfight with Jacqueline: “Alright, make up your mind. Which one of us do you want?”
Honest Hank: “I think I’ll have another whiskey.”
Pamela Blake as Joan Talbot, a Pinkerton agent posing as a saloon girl in The Daltons’ Women (1950)
Cliff Taylor as George, the wisecracking bartender in The Daltons’ Women (1950)
Tom Tyler as Emmett Dalton, one of the brothers making life difficult in Navajo in The Daltons’ Women (1950)
Raymond Hatton as Sheriff Doolan, none to eager to tackle with the Daltons in The Daltons’ Women (1950)
Jacqueline Fontaine as saloon singer Jacqueline Fontaine in The Daltons’ Women (1950)
Lash La Rue as the marshal and Al St. John as Fuzzy Q. Jones, about to intervene in a stage holdup in The Daltons’ Women (1950)
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