Joe Dakota

I saw this Western movie on afternoon TV when I was a child. I remember it as suspenseful, yet sweet and touching. There's the mystery: who is this Stranger who rides into town, what does he want, and what has happened to the old Indian scout named "Joe Dakota"? What are the townspeople hiding? The sweet and touching ending: the Stranger exposes the injustice that has been done, which leads the townspeople into repentance.

A good film for Jocko fans and western fans in general. Seems to be a remake of "Bad Day at Black Rock" with a few changes. Mahoney is the stranger coming to town as Spencer Tracy was in "Black Rock". The old Indian that's missing was and older Japanese man in "Black Rock", and the town seems to be hiding something just like the townspeople in "Black Rock". Jocko investigates and irritates the townspeople just like Spencer Tracy did in "Black Rock". Mahoney always looks good on a horse and this film is no exception. There are a couple of good fight scenes with Jocko doing all his own stunts as usual. Could have used more action, but all in all is a good western.

JOE DAKOTA, directed by Richard Bartlett in 1957, is one of the best B Westerns I remember watching. Jock Mahoney, Charles McGraw (playing villain against type), Luana Patten, Claude Akins and Lee Van Cleef were all B picture names in 1957. Van Cleef went on to earn some considerable visibility with leading roles in Spaghetti Westerns in the late 60s.

Despite their modest status, all act rather competently in a solid and credible Western done at a point when racism was beginning to come into question in US society and the world at large. As another crit points out, it bears some similarities with the storyline of BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK, done two years earlier.

In spite of some similarities, the script is very good in that it slowly draws out its real aim. Jock Mahoney does particularly well as the calm stranger with "the gall" to stand up to an entire town to try to learn about the Indian who was hanged for reportedly trying to rape a white girl.

His initial visit to the oil rig, Akins and van Cleef dropping him in the oil pool, and his bath in the town's watering hole are sequences of the highest quality, far above and beyond what one would expect from a B pic.

JOE DAKOTA keeps its slow, deliberate pace throughout, until the final showdown, but it is arresting throughout thanks to credible dialogue.

I had never heard of it, and accidentally found it on Youtube. As an avid Western watcher, I just had to watch this hitherto unknown flick, and I am glad I did.

I recommend it, too!

A decent , action-packed Western set in California in which the events crackle with intrigue , fights , and suspense . In the sparsely populated town of Arborville, that seems to be hiding a guilty secret , rides a lone stranger who arrives in the little location . His name is Joe Dakota (Jock Mahoney) and he's looking for an old friend whom he calls The Old Indian and is also called Dakota Joe (Francis McDonald). His attempts to do so will confront him against the entire little town including Cal Moore (Charles McGraw) who claims to have purchased the land , Myrna Weaver (Barbara Lawrence) , Aaron Grant (Claude Akins) , his brother Adam Grant (Lee Van Cleef) , Marcus Vizzin (Anthony Caruso) , Frank Weaver (Paul Birch) , among others .The townsfolk claim the Old Indian had packed up and left town but Joe doubts it . He suffers a strong hostility and hatred by the inhabitants and neighbours. When Joe starts asking questions about his old friend, the men either clam up or state that the old Indian has sold his land and left town. Heading for the old man's farm Joe notices a bunch of men working on a new oil rig dug right on The Old Indian's property . Then Dakota uncovering up a terrible secret and being threatened ; dangerous attempts will be made by the hostile villagers ; as he will be mercilessly chased . Joe decides to stick around and investigate further, despite protests from the townsfolk who want to see him far from town . Joe makes one new friend, Miss Jody Weaver (Luana Patten) , who falls for him , who is willing to shed some light on The Old Indian's fate .WHY did This Town Without a Conscience...Fear This Man Without a Name? What evil did they try to hide from him?The West's most startling story ! In this town without a conscience ... Revenge walked the streets with a stranger !

This interesting movie contains enjoyable performances from all concerned , suspense , tension , thrills , exciting situations and some action . Moving and attractive Western with a simple , standard story with a certain intrigue that engages the viewer until the last scene when there takes place the denouement by a final fighting into an oil well . However , too much conversation and too little action , at times , bogs down this Western , although fights , shootouts and suspense are nice . And at the ending the crude truth everyone has been hiding comes out including the stranger's true identity. This is a suspenseful as well as intriguing film in which Jock Mahoney plays decently a stranger rides into town looking for a local Indian and he suffers threats , intimidation , violence by the nasty neighbours . Not very-known actor Jock Mahoney was an acceptable player who had a passable career . When World War II broke out, he enlisted as a Marine fighter pilot and instructor. In Hollywood, he was a noted stunt man, doubling for Errol Flynn, John Wayne, and Gregory Peck. Gene Autry signed him for the lead in his 78-episode The Range Rider (1951) TV series. He tested to replace Johnny Weissmuller, as Tarzan but lost out to Lex Barker. In 1960, he played the heavy in Gordon Scott's Tarzan the magnificent (1960), and his part there led Sy Weintraub to hire him as Scott's replacement. In his two Tarzan movies, he did all his own stunts. As he played Tarzan goes to India and Tarzan's three challenges Tarzan (1963), he continued working in spite of dysentery, dengue fever and pneumonia. By this time, Weintraub was looking for a younger Tarzan, envisioning a future TV series. By mutual agreement, his contract with Mahoney was dissolved. After a couple of years regaining his strength and weight, Jock returned to making action films .There are excellent acting from some Hollywood's best support players , including prestigious secondaries such as : Charles McGraw , Barbara Lawrence , Claude Akins , Lee Van Cleef , Anthony Caruso , Gregg Barton , Paul Birch and uncredited Francis McDonald as Joe Dakota

It contains colorful cinematography in Universal International Picture style by cameraman George Robinson . And functional and thrilling musical score by uncredited and Universal regular composers : Henry Mancini , Hans J. Salter , Herman Stein . The motion picture was made in low budget and professionally directed by Richard Barlett . He was a good craftsman and Western expertise , directing films as Two-Gun Lady , The Lonesome Trail , The Silver Star , Money, Women and Guns , some of them starred by Jock Mahoney .From late 50s and 60s he went on directing episodes of famous TV series as Laredo , Riverboat , Calibre 44 , Shotgun Slade , Bonanza , Markham , The Tall Man , Cimarron City and Wagon Train . Rating : 6/10 . Well worth watching .

Shame Mahony was not a bigger star. He made most of his movies by being a uncredited stunt man which is a waste. The whistle in this is catching but could not find who the Whistler was. Enjoyable movie without a lot of violence or suspense. Turns out the whole town is keeping a secret about the location of the old Indian. Apparently one man was able to fool and fleece the others.