Dakota Lil

Yet another western, based on the Tom Horn legend, this one focuses on the early days, before he supposedly turned 'bad.' Montgomery is acceptable as the detective sent to bring in counterfeiters, Windsor the dance hall girl who leads the way.

It seems that originally Dakota Lil was done in color, but the print I saw was black and white. That probably helped as this rather dark film was better in noir black and white. But the upbeat ending and one that was not called for was misplaced in this western.

George Montgomery because some unsigned treasury notes were among the items stolen is assignment from the Treasury Department to track down the legendary Hole In The Wall gang. To get them he must get to a notorious forger whose services the gang needs in order to turn those notes into cash. That would be the title character Dakota Lil played here by Marie Windsor.

The most revealing bit of acting is done here by Rod Cameron normally a B western hero, but occasionally a bad guy. Here he is one really bad guy. Cameron prefers to strangle people as opposed to shooting them. That includes enemies and even people who don't move fast enough when he commands them to do something. Rod's one scary dude.

Dakota Lil is a good film absolutely spoiled with a rather unbelievable happy ending. You'll have to see it for yourself to judge if I'm right.

I prefer forgetting this one, compared to the second and overwhelming movie starring Steve McQueen, made in 1979, one year before his death. This very Lesley Selander western is quite entertaining, especially if you like George Montgomery, and is still worth watching. Lesley Selander was a chain western maker, but a pretty good one. None of his films were boring. But of course, don't dare comparing with the second western also telling the story of Tom Horn, the most terrific, prestigious, unforgettable version. However, I don't wish to spoil the maybe pleasure that you could have with this western. Just enjoy.

This is quite an enjoyable western crime drama - not least because the leading character is the rather feisty "Dakota Lil" (Marie Windsor). Ostensibly a travelling entertainer - with just the one song, from what I saw - she is also a cunning counterfeiter and is being sought by the authorities. Meantime George Montgomery ("Tom") is on the trail of some train robbers who have pinches $100,000 worth of unsigned bonds, and soon the fate of the two are inextricably linked! Rod Cameron (whom i think looked a lot like Randolph Scott here) turns up in a really nasty guise, playing just about everyone against each other and proving he could deal brutally with those who got in his way, and we have an appearance from the legendary "Hole in the Wall" gang to keep it moving along well, too. It's maybe just a little too long, there isn't enough action to sustain it - indeed the first fifteen minutes could have been condensed easily, but it's still a decent watch with a little more substantial characterisation and a modicum of on screen chemistry between "Lil" and "Tom"

Dakota Lil is directed by Lesley Salander and written by Maurice Geraghty and Frank Gruber. It stars George Montgomery, Rod Cameron, Marie Windsor and Wallace Ford. Music is by Dimitri Tiomkin and cinematography by Jack Greenhalgh.

Tom Horn (Montgomery) is a Secret Service agent hunting a counterfeit ring. Getting tight with dance hall gal Lil (Windsor), Horn quickly finds himself in the hornets nest.

It's titled after Windsor's character but ultimately it's about Tom Horn during his early years as a good guy before he became a hired gunman. Unfortunately not even the presence of Montgomery and Cameron, two reliable Western performers, can save this lifeless affair. The acting is sub-standard, especially the quite woeful Windsor who seems simply to be a dressage character only. Some of the undercover machinations hold interest, while there are fist-fights and shoot- outs to while away the running time, but even with the latter it's all distinctly routine fodder.

Originally filmed in Cinecolor, some sources show a black and white version, which is the one I saw. It's hard to tell if watching it in colour would improve things as per the scenery et al, such is the flatness of the screenplay, direction and acting performances. 4/10