La donna che volevano linciare

The immortal silent movie's director Allan Dwann still alives in talked movies and made a outstanding and prolific career with more than 400 movies, probably never will be surpassed nowadays, this western wasn't any kind of forgotten gem or something like that, just a different kind, where the women are the major stars, Joan Leslie as new Saloon's owner, Audrey Totter as a evil and bitter Quantrill's wife and Nina Varela as the City's Mayor, all them strong and powerful, the story is usual, took place during the civil war!!

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First watch: 2017 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7

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.

I do not write many reviews. However I feel compelled to write this 1 about a film I had never hear of.

I am a big fan of westerns and chanced upon this movie. And I found it a very well made and fun movie. The cast on a whole from saloon gals, to mayor and city committee, to bar employee, to confederate and union soldiers including Quantrell raiders, and city folk really seemed to enjoy their roles. My guess this film was a gas to make. The writing was good with appearances of Jesse James and Cole Younger. And directed well by somebody who had many years of experience.

Overall I gave this movie an 8. High rating for a entertaining movie!

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.

The movie is unusual because the ladies are the powerful ones in this movie. Audrie Totter is the cowgirl Emma Peel Because of her sexy leather pants and riding boots. Audrey is also the opposite of Emma because of her evil disposition. Warren O'Leary.