Joan Leslie is Sally Maris, a young lady who heads West to the town of Border City to visit a brother she hasn’t seen in more than 10 years. No more than she arrives, the brother is gunned down in his saloon in a fit of jealousy over a former lover (Audrey Totter), who was kidnapped by and later married Quantrill, of Quantrill’s Raiders fame.
Lance Horton (John Lund), the man who shot Bill Maris in self-defense, proclaims himself Sally’s protector, though she wants nothing to do with him, at least at first. Cole Younger would like to make Sally his own, but she wants nothing to do with him either. Nor does she want anything to do with the saloon she just inherited, until she discovers her brother owed a lot of gambling debts and the only way to sell the saloon at a profit is to run it for a while.
All this takes place in a town known for its neutrality during the Civil War. And Mayor Delilah Courtney is oh-so protective of that neutrality. After all, she runs a pair of lead mines, and sells her lead to both sides. Anyone threatening the town’s neutrality is likely to find his or her neck in a noose.
That could mean trouble, because Quantrill’s Raiders are back in town. Kate Quantrill is out to get Sally. And Quantrill is threatening to expose her new love, Horton, for the Confederate spy he is.
Review:
The opening monologue tells us this is going to be a tongue-firmly-planted-in-cheek affair, and as long as you view it with that in mind, it’s good fun, and a lot different than your standard 1950s Western.
The cast is full of familiar faces, including young Ben Cooper as Jesse James and Brian Donlevy as Quantrill. And while Leslie might have gotten top billing, bad girl Audrey Totter, in her tight-fitting men’s clothes, wound up being the focal point of posters promoting the film. The movie features an extended catfight — and a gunfight in the middle of the street — between the two leading ladies.
The title gives away Sally’s fate, but we’re still treated to a cute ending, too.
Directed by:
Allan Dwan
Cast:
Joan Leslie … Sally Maris
Audrey Totter … Kate Quantrill
John Lund … Lance Horton
Brian Donlevy … Quantrill
Ben Cooper … Jesse James
Nina Varela … Mayor Courtney
Jim Davis … Cole Younger
Reed Hadley … Bill Maris
James Brown … Frank James
Ann Savage .. Glenda
Virginia Christine … Jenny
Marilyn Lindsey … Rose
Minerva Urecal … Mrs. Stuart
Runtime: 90 min.
Songs:
“All My Life” and “How Strange”
performed by Audrey Totter
Memorable lines:
Cole Younger to Sally Maris: “You’re a spirited little thing. I bet a kiss from you would be like a kick from a mule.”
Bill Maris to Sally Maris: “Young and tender, ain’t ya? What makes you think I need another girl in this place?” He spins her around for an inspection. “Yeah, you’ll do. Just as long as you’re real polite to the boss. And that’s me.”
Jesse James: “That’s a real nice way for a man to treat his sister!”
Saloon girl 1: “Do you think you’re the type to be a hostess in a saloon?”
Sally Maris: “Well, what do I need? Except for a fancy dress?”
Saloon girl 2: “Oh, sister.”
Saloon girl 1: “You need a painted smile that don’t wear off. Cheek rouge that don’t show tear stains. A brassy whiskey voice. And a big hello.”
Kate Quantrill: “I got a little job I’m gonna do tomorrow before we go.”
Jim Younger: “What would that be, Kate?”
Kate: “I’m gonna kill me a pigeon (Sally Maris).”
Cole Younger: “Not my pigeon.”
Kate: “You can have the feathers.”
Quantrill to his wife Kate, after she’s lost a gunfight to Sally: “Why don’t you give up? She fights better than you. She shoots better than you. She even talks better than you.”
Cole Younger: “Yeah, I bet she even cooks better than you.”
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