Female Artillery

"Female Artillery" is a made for TV movie that feels very, very familiar. There had already been quite a few films before this sort of thing--a group of obvious underdogs in a wagon train that take on and defeat an evil gang thanks to a guy. "Westward the Women", "The Cowboys" and many other films have plowed similar ground. Because of this and because the picture offers few surprises, I was not impressed.

When the film begins, Deke Chambers (Dennis Weaver) comes upon a group of women from a wagon train that are alone and in trouble. There is small pox or some other sort of thing and Deke stays and helps them overcome it using tricks he'd learned from the natives. He then sticks around a bit...and this is when trouble starts. It seems that Deke has some loot--and his old gang want it. They naturally say that they'll let everyone go if they just give them the money...but they all know their days are numbered unless they fight.

Ordinary and unoriginal. Not much more to say about this slight film.

This 1973 television western features the kind of amiable western film-making common at that time. A fine cast is on hand, including Dennis Weaver, Ida Lupino and Albert Salmi ---- all veterans of many western roles. The story here involves a fleeing outlaw who links up with a troupe of traveling ladies , hiding his loot with them. As might be expected, all sorts of complications then take place.

Dennis Weaver was very good in this film, obviously enjoying another well-written western role. From Gunsmoke to McCloud, he was always at home in the saddle. This is a good, but rarely shown western film. Catch it if you can !