Opiniones de usuarios

This was a John Wayne film before he became a major star. If you remember this and that this was never meant to be a top-quality film with a big budget, then you will probably see that for what it is, it does very well. This western is a bit better than the average western because Wayne's acting is as good as ever and Albert Dekker is a great villain as well. Plus, the writing is very good for this type of film--with excellent dialog and the plot moves along very nicely as well. So, overall, all the necessary elements for a B-Western are here. Oh, and I almost forgot, it has a lady (Binnie Barnes) who is pretty much there as a plot device (after all, you NEED a woman to come between the men in this type of movie--or so it seems). The bottom line is this is fr from great, but very watchable for those who like the genre.

In Old California is a fun, surprisingly complex John Wayne vehicle from more positive and principled days. It features a good good guy (gosh, even goes to church! feature that!), a couple of bad bad guys - and even a character that transforms from shady to admirable.

It's a move that takes one's attention, keeps it, and sends one off feeling good. If that's your idea of a good movie experience, give it a go.

Will begin by saying that I've been a major John Wayne fan all of my life and have seen many many of his movies, and have screened many of those dozens and scores of times. Recently I viewed this title for the first time. Personally, I feel the film was very well done, and in particular is a solid testament to the fact that the Duke had a much better ability to portray different characters than he has often been credited with. Granted, some Wayne movies are superior to others, but this one had tremendous entertainment value and certainly does not deserve the negative reviews I have read of it. The vast majority of John Wayne's movies rate an overall "good" at the very least, and certainly all of them are worth watching once. I highly recommend this one to even the most apathetic, luke-warm John Wayne fans, and even to his most critical detractors as it really was 88 minutes of good entertainment so make some popcorn, snuggle on the couch with your sweetheart and enjoy this unusual John Wayne film...

One of the many gradually improving westerns Republic created for their biggest star in the early forties, "In Old California" was still very much in the 'B'-picture mold, but was a very entertaining tale of young Boston druggist Wayne relocating to Sacramento (echoing his real-life father's journey from Iowa to California, as a pharmacist), where his modern ideas and integrity (and the attentions from saloon girl Binnie Barnes) puts him at odds with 'town boss' Albert Dekker. While fundamentally a pacifist (Wayne diffuses potential confrontations with an ability to bend coins in his fingers!), Dekker, seeing him as a threat, decides to eliminate him by switching medicine with poison, discrediting him...but Wayne would soon have an opportunity to redeem himself...

The film benefits from the comic talents of two of Hollywood's best comedians, Edgar Kennedy (master of the 'Slow Burn') and Patsy Kelly (an old pro at sarcastic wisecracks), the teasing byplay between Wayne and Barnes, and his confrontations with Dekker (one of the 1940s' best 'villains', and a perfect foil for the young 'straight-arrow' leading man).

One of Wayne's more 'offbeat' oaters, but still a popular entry, during one of Wayne's busiest years!

This western from the Republic is a good surprise. First for the character played by John Wayne, a pharmacist, who doesn't fire a single shot during the whole film and doesn't kill anybody. So he is not a typical John Wayne. Then the story, which cleverly mixes John Wayne's uneasy relationship with the titular villain, Albert Dekker (who tends to squint a bit too much), as they both covet Binnie Barnes, one unknowingly, the other very ostensibly. Then the arrival of the gold discovered in California and the madness that goes with it will change the game. The villain remains the villain of course.

Note that it is co-written by three writers, including two women. One of them having been a gagman at Universal (Frances Hyland). The comic relief is provided by Edgar Kennedy and Patsy Kelly, who are not subtle, but who contribute to the originality of this western.

The whole thing is mounted with rhythm where things happen quickly, without any dead time. With multiple settings. To serve these different plots, where everything is guessed, the film is conducted with efficiency by combining entertainment and dynamism.

Boston druggist John Wayne travels to Sacramento to open a drug store. On the way he angers big-shot Albert Dekker, who attempts to blackball Wayne, only to find him partner up with his girlfriend, leading to the inevitable love-triangle, skulduggery, and showdown.

One of the minor Wayne westerns cranked out by Republic Pictures in the nineteen-forties, this mild programmer is pleasant enough entertainment, though nothing really to write home about. It could have been a little better.

The Duke is a bit softer than usual, in a role that's a lot different than you're used to seeing, that of an educated, suit-wearing gentleman.

The underlying story is reasonable with just enough unpredictability amid the gentle comedy to make you wonder how it's all going to work. Some of the big gunfights feel like low-budget fillers, with people just randomly shooting, rather than being properly choreographed. However, what is really enjoyable is seeing John Wayne come of age as a lead actor convincingly. I may be wrong but this may one of the first, if not the first film where we get both his distinctive walk and that unique way of delivering lines where he throws in pauses mid-sentence. Entertaining fun.

I really enjoyed this early western. Most of the oaters that came out of the 40s, even the ones honored to have John Wayne in them were not ones to be remembered in years to come as classics. This one is definitely a cut above the cookie cutter variety of that era. John Wayne plays a Boston bred pharmacist who is dapper and very sure of himself when it comes to either being strong and forceful, or brimming with confidence in regards to the ladies. Although there is some of the usual fisticuffs and shootouts, this is not a typical western with multiple gunfights and saloon brawls. Its just a bit more on the civilized side for that early era. Whether your an old time John Wayne fan, or just a wannabe cowpoke like me that longs for the good old days of television when the western was king, I think this is one definitely worth your time to sit a spell for...

The main novelty here is watching John Wayne in an unusual western role for him, a pharmacist for whom violence is not the first resource, although he is still tough enough. Wayne could give his characters a sort of gentle charm that serves him well here.

Other than that, we get a decent story, entertaining but nothing special.

The gold rush. everyone gets rich! John Wayne had already hit it big in Stagecoach a couple years back. Here, he's Craig, pharmacist from Boston, on is way to Sacramento. His east coast ways don't go over too well here on the rough and ready west coast. Costars regulars Binnie Barnes and Milton Kibbee. The typical good cowboy (pharmacist) against bad cowboy. Patsy Kelly is in here for comedy. and there are comedy bits here and there. Sure, there's a serious storyline here, or actually a bunch of little subplots all over the place. horses galloping along. rootin, tootin, shootin! It's just okay. kind of goes rambling all over. Directed by William McGann, who had started in the silents and worked his way up to director. nominated for "Stolen Life". best part of this is patsy kelly. she's fun.

After a bit of an altercation on the steamboat, "Craig" (John Wayne) arrives in the burgeoning town of Sacramento to set up his pharmacy. He's no quack, but can't find premises. Luckily, the lady who was the source of an earlier drenching steps up and agrees to rent him a shop next to her bar. "Lacey" (Binnie Barnes) sees opportunities galore in this broad-shouldered young man but those are not shared by her beau, the town's self-appointed boss "Britt" (Albert Dekker). What now ensues follows a predicable pattern as it builds to its conclusion, but along the way there is some decent chemistry between a charismatic Wayne and Barnes and plenty of mischief. It's tightly cast with a few familiar faces to pep up the story as the shenanigans take shape and as our visitor demonstrates just how effective bending a nickel between your fingers can be at conflict management. The production is all very routine but some effort has gone into the look of the film and the writing even manages a little spirit now and again too. Perhaps there are one too many songs, but I still quite enjoyed this lively gold-rush pioneering adventure.

Tall and elegant pharmacist Tom Craig comes to Sacramento to open up his own drug store. On route he incurs the wrath of bully boy Britt Dawson, who doesn't take kindly to his Bostonian manners, however Dawson's girl Lacey Miller does, and along with newly acquired friend Kegs McKeever, Tom has the foundation to see his plans thru to fruition, but Dawson and his loose cannon younger brother are determined to get in the way.

This is one of those films that the John Wayne haters should seek out when they use the argument that he always played the same characters. Here he is far from macho, for sure he will be forced to branch out and defend what's right, but his Tom Craig here is gentile and full of grace, very much a gentleman thank you very much. Plot wise we are treated to standard fare, good guys and bad guys just don't get on, and you just know that some pretty dames are going to have a say in proceedings. Yet this piece really has much more going for it, it's sense of fun, courtesy mainly of Edgar Kennedy and Patsy Kelly's blossoming relationship, the advancement of drugs to cure the sick and it's back drop of the Sacremento gold rush, all of it comes together to totally satisfy come the final credits. 7.5/10

This is a very cute role for John Wayne. He plays a pharmacist, and I would imagine he felt very close to his beloved father, who owned a drugstore. If you're not too invested in John Wayne's personal life, though, you might not love this movie. It's a mediocre western with a lot of tropes and predictability. Binnie Barnes isn't a very likable leading lady, and her sidekick Patsy Kelly nearly steals the spotlight from her. Patsy enjoys probably a once-in-a-career role for her. She's still coarse, and she's still the comic relief. But has she ever had a man wrap his arms around her and say, "Helga! Be mine!" Probably not, and I hope she got a kick out of it.

In Old California is more of an old west flick than a traditional western. It's about the gold rush, how everyone gets gold fever in their veins, and the corruption and lengths some will go to remove the competition. Unfortunately, all those awful things probably did happen back in the day, but the script is very black-hat-white-hat. Duke has made a ton of films, so if you want to stick to the good ones, you know where to find them.

An American Western; A story set in the late 1840s about a pharmacist from Boston who opens a shop in Sacramento shortly before the Gold Rush and attracts interest from good and bad. John Wayne gives a good performance with a trademark sturdy, manly presence. The film provides light comic relief, action and romance but it is a slight story stretched to a feature length. The direction is adequate but nothing more. Predictably there are gunfights, romance, horseback chases and comical drunkards but, alas, no surprises.

Once John Wayne got passed B movies, he moved from hit to hit for the most part. Most of those movies are films people know, Stagecoach, Flying Tigers, Back to Bataan, among others.

In Old California doesn't get so well known. But what it is, is an absolutely well crafted western, and in a rare case for me... an authentic feeling romance that does NOT dominate the plot but rather spreads itself subtly through the entire film, complete with a few twists.

Everyone's characterization is excellent, from comedic value, to heroes and villains. This is an excellent John Wayne film for anyone who wants to find yet one more to enjoy.