I dominatori

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!

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.

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.

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 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.