Abilene Town
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Edwin L. Marin
Randolph Scott
Ann Dvorak
Edgar Buchanan
Rhonda Fleming
Lloyd Bridges
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In 1870, Abilene, Kansas is a rowdy, wild town located at the end of the one-thousand mile Chisholm cattle trail. When gunshots interrupt a church service, Abilene marshal Dan Mitchell leaves the church to investigate. The shots are the cattlemen's way of showing their approval of entertainer Rita's performance at the local saloon. After Dan confiscates the guns, he reminds the men that all weapons are to be checked at the door. Despite Dan's warnings, a quarrel over a card game results in the murder of one of cattle boss Ryker's men. When Dan refuses to let Ryker's men take revenge on the murderer, they threaten to tear the town apart. In addition to the unruly cowboys, the residents of Abilene are troubled by the recent arrival of homesteaders, who want to build farms and fences along the trail, which is owned by the government. Charlie Fair, the owner of the saloon, who depends on the cowboys for his living, is worried that the merchants will discover that they can earn more from the homesteaders and team up with them against the cattlemen. That night, some of Charlie's men set fire to the homesteads and one farmer is killed. A homesteader recognizes Jet Younger among them, and a posse is organized by sheriff Bravo Trimble to search for him. Although the crimes did not take place in Dan's jurisdiction, he joins the posse, convinced that Bravo has no intention of finding Younger. Dan's suspicions prove correct, and when Bravo learns that Dan intends to look for Younger in an old mine shaft, he knocks Dan unconscious and ties him up. After Dan frees himself, he searches the mine shaft and finds Younger there. Despite Bravo's duplicity, Dan allows the sheriff to deliver Younger to the waiting townspeople. Later, while Dan visits Rita in her room, Younger escapes. When Dan hears about the escape, he chases Younger and shoots him. The homesteaders now decide to fence the range, but Eli Balder, Abilene's foremost merchant, refuses to sell them the wire. Impressed by the arguments of young farmer Henry Dreiser, however, Sherry, Eli's daughter, agrees to help the homesteaders. When Ryker's men reach the fences with the cattle, they angrily drive the herd across the land despite the barriers. Expecting a fight, Dan asks the homesteaders to meet in town. He allows the cowboys to blow off steam destroying the saloons and then arrests Ryker. When Ryker resists arrest, Dan is forced to kill him, but the cowboys agree to leave town when they see the armed homesteaders. Now that the town is quiet, Rita and Dan plan their wedding, as do Henry and Sherry.
Director
Edwin L. Marin
Cast
Randolph Scott
Ann Dvorak
Edgar Buchanan
Rhonda Fleming
Lloyd Bridges
Helen Boyce
Howard Freeman
Richard Hale
Jack Lambert
Dick Curtis
Earl Schenck
Eddy Waller
Hank Patterson
Crew
James Barker
Ben Beck
Herbert J. Biberman
Gerard Carbonara
Duncan Cramer
Joe De Young
Jack Elliott
Nat W. Finston
Albert Glasser
Kermit Goell
Richard Heermance
Charles Koff
Sammy Lee
Jules Levey
Jules Levey
Otho Lovering
James Mayfield
Joseph H. Nadel
Harold Shumate
Fred Spielman
Archie Stout
Maurie Suess
Max Terr
Peter Tuesday
Ben Winkler
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
I don't know whether you joined us or we joined you, but it's good to be together.- Rita
You've been out looking for the man who stuck up the train?- Chet Younger
I figure I got more trail dust than he did dollars.- Sheriff Bravo Trimble
Now, Bravo, I thought we were old friends.- Dan Mitchell
We are, Dan, we are. But you got the idea that you ought to kick up a fuss about things that are going to happen anyway. I don't figure it that way. A man's got to live. Cows get lost, sometimes accidents happen and fellas get killed. Why get hot under the collar about I? And why go hunting for fellas that don't want to be found?- Sheriff Bravo Trimble
I understand you filed for reelection next fall, Bravo.- Dan Mitchell
Yeah, they talked me into it. I figured on opening up a saloon or maybe going back to practicing dentistry. But somebody has got to keep law and order in the county.- Sheriff Bravo Trimble
You know, I think what I like least about you is you're so sure of yourself.- Rita
When a man rides down the middle of Texas Street, confidence is all he's got.- Dan Mitchell
Trivia
Notes
This film marked the motion picture debut of Helen Boyce, a one-time vaudeville headliner and proprietor of Santa Monica's "Coocoonut Groove" nightclub. A special premiere was held in Abiline on January 14, 1946. The Motion Picture Herald review notes that Abilene was the hometown of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, commander in chief of allied forces in western Europe during World War II.
