Woman They Almost Lynched

"Woman They Almost Lynched" from 1953, is a gripping Western film that skillfully blends suspens e, drama, and action to tell the story of a woman caught in a violent and unforgiving frontier society. Directed by Allan Dwan, the film centers around a strong-willed and resourceful woman, played by Joan Leslie, who becomes entangled with a gang of outlaws after a stagecoach robbery. The film explores her struggle for survival, torn between her own moral compass and the brutal expectations of the lawless world around her. Joan Leslie dpelivers a nuanced performance, embodying both vulnerability and strength as her character is thrust into a series of life-threatening situations. The plot, which is based on the real-life events of an infamous lynching attempt, offers a stark look at the struggles and harsh justice of the Old West. There is also a fine supporting cast. The film's pacing builds tension effectively, making the climactic moments all the more impactful. This stands out from most takes of yore with its unique focus on a strong female protagonist and its exploration of moral dilemmas of back then, making it a memorable entry in the genre.

One of those unusual westerns with two women as the central characters... such as in "Johnny Guitar" and "Jubilee Trail," among others. During the Civil War in a town run by ruthless people, bad Kate has it in for darling Sally but stay tuned to the climactic ending to see how this all works out. Definitely a cheap oater with few production values, but it does have lively performances from Joan Leslie and Audrey Totter. If you know these actresses, then you know who plays whom. Fourth-billed Leslie is actually the star of this dopey-titled film and is always a joy to watch. For those who love women fight scenes, this has one of the fun ones. So glad I have it on my homemade VHS as this little-seen film is unlikely to ever be on DVD.

In many ways this rollicking piece of Republic hokum resembles 'Johnny Guitar' with a sense of humour; it's tongue-in-cheek mood established at the outset by the opening narration describing America after the Civil War as a time of "rebels and renegades" followed by an exchange between a youngster and an old timer when the lad asks "Where is everybody?" and the old boy replies "Up at the lynching" and the later throwaway line "You killed five Yankee soldiers on your way into town!"

That although playing the title role Joan Leslie - who although formerly a Sunday school teacher soon shows herself pretty adept with a six shooter - only gets billed fourth does her a grave disservice; since despite the presence of famous western outlaws like Brian Donlevy as William Quantrell (for some reason here called 'Charles Quantrill'), Jim Davis as Cole Younger and Ben Cooper as a fresh-faced young Jesse James a remarkable feature of the film is the preponderance of females, from Nina Varela as the lady mayoress with robust views on capital punishment to a blonde Audrey Totter in a black hat and leather pants - definitely not a lady but certainly all woman - as Quantrill's wife Kate who engages Miss Leslie in a terrific catfight admiringly described by one onlooker as "a better fight than the war between the north and the south".

Too bad it wasn't made in Trucolor as was originally intended. Still, you can't have everything.

This may be a Republic B-western, but it is an action-packed and highly entertaining melodrama under the skillful hand of veteran director Alan Dwan. Not only that, but a year before the cult classic JOHNNY GUITAR, we have another feminist western with both a barroom brawl and a shootout between two women, in this case Joan Leslie and Audrey Totter, as well as a tough female mayor who owns the local lead mine. We also get appearances by Frank and Jesse James and the Younger brothers, riding with Quantrill's raiders at the end of the Civil War.

Nevertheless, putative stars Brian Donlevy (as Quantrill) and John Lund (as the mine foreman) take a back seat to the women as far as the action and main plot go. Even longtime Republic star Reed Hadley barely makes an appearance (as Leslie's brother) before being shot down in the first reel, giving the plot its "inciting action," since his younger sister must now take over the saloon he owns and the debts he owes. The film's only faults are some tedious expositions presented through a couple of pretty heavy-handed dialogue scenes towards the beginning and again towards the end. Otherwise, there are lots of unpredictable variations on the genre, especially for a Republic western. There are even a couple of songs, sung by Audrey Totter as a saloon singer.

On the Missouri-Arkansas border, a town has proclaimed neutrality in the Civil War. Under the rule of Mayor Nina Varela, they can get away with it, because she owns the lead mine and, as the opening narrator tells us us cheerfully, they hang anyone who violates it.... with a lynching going on as we begin.

Into this mix comes Joan Leslie, looking for her brother, Reed Hadley. He's immediately shot by John Lund, leaving Miss Leslie with a money-making saloon and lots of debts. Adding to this mess, come Quantrill's Raiders, led by Brian Donlevy, who's married to Audrey Totter, who was going to marry Hadley until Donlevy carried her away; now she's mean, and gunning for Miss Leslie, who's in love with Lund, because this is one of director Allan Dwan's movies, where symbolism carries the freight, and the dark/light twins at the center of this conflict are Miss Totter and Miss Leslie.

Miss Totter has a heck of a time, sauntering around in leather trousers with a sneer on her face, Brian Donlevy constantly putting her down. Miss Leslie is the good girl, unable to get a job as a schoolmarm, who turns readily to being, as she puts it, "a honky-tonk queen." The women running the town talk slightingly of men in a way that sounds photo-feminist, but with Union troops to the north and Southern troops to the south, and all the men in town the dregs of society -- who drink a lot but are very respectful of the women -- it's an uneasy equilibrium, a stasis that will last until the end of the War, Can Miss Varela hang enough people who threaten the situation to last until then?

When people talk about the weird symbolic westerns of the 1950s, they usually talk about JOHNNY GUITAR. This one is even crazier, because the people in this movie think they're sane.