L'ultima sfida

Better than average script-writing, good production values and some nice twists helps Fort Worth rise above the usual B-western effort.

The plot is somewhat reminiscent of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, though it precedes it by a decade!

Randolph Scott, having hung up his guns following the Civil War, returns to his hometown of Fort Worth to start a newspaper. His first target is a group of murderous cowboys who killed a boy in a deliberate stampede. Soon he begins to suspect he's being manipulated by his old friend, a shifty businessman who would benefit greatly from the elimination of the cowpokes.

David Brian gives a good performance as Scott's friend/nemesis and the film does a good job at keeping his character ambiguous right up till near the end.

With Warner Brothers having done a western entitled Dallas a year earlier with Gary Cooper it only seemed right that it produce another western with the title of that other Texas twin city, Fort Worth. Starring in this one is Randolph Scott and directing it is Edwin L. Marin who collaborated with Scott on a few other previous films. This was Marin's last film as a director. Not a noteworthy stylist, Marin nevertheless was able to do a competent and entertaining product.

Scott's in a strange occupation for him in a western, he's a newspaper editor, a partner with Emerson Treacy with Dick Jones working for them. They're picking up stakes and going to Texas and decide to settle in the city of Fort Worth which is having problems with a lawless element led by cattle trail boss Ray Teal. An old friend of Scott's, David Brian is the big mover and shaker in Fort Worth and he'd like to see a railroad come through and a meat packing plant right in the town like Chicago. That would eliminate folks like Teal and he's not about to see that happen.

Scott has an interesting character, he's become pacifistic after war service and thinks that the power of the pen will do more than the six gun. But when law and order breaks down Randy straps on the six guns like Jimmy Stewart in Destry Rides Again to restore it as surely as Stewart did in Bottleneck.

Brian though has a strange character, even after the end of the film you don't know quite what to make of him. He says he wants law and order, but tolerates an ineffectual sheriff in Chubby Johnson and allows Teal to run roughshod. Many in the cast want to know just what is his game and in the end we never really find out. Makes for an interesting piece of cinema.

Fort Worth is an interesting western with far more plot than most of these six gun shoot 'em ups have. It is one of Randolph Scott's best westerns from the Fifties, you'll become a fan of Randolph Scott after seeing Fort Worth.

Out of Warner Bros, Fort Worth is directed by Edwin L. Marin and written by John Twist. It stars Randolph Scott, David Brian, Phyllis Thaxter, Helena Carter, Dickie Jones & Ray Teal. A Technicolor production, the exteriors are shot on location at Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles & Warner Ranch, Calabasas, California. Photography is by Sidney Hickox & David Buttolph scores the music.

Former gunfighter Ned Britt (Scott) sets up shop as a newspaper printer in Fort Worth, Texas. But he may have to come out of gunman retirement since a gang of outlaws are intent on running things their way. Not only that but Ned is falling for Flora Talbot (Thaxter), the fiancée of a former friend, Blair Lunsford (Brian).

This was actually Edwin L. Marin's last film before he would sadly pass away the same year. No more than a jobber director, he was, however, very capable in crafting a Western story; particularly when Scott was his leading man. Such is the case here. On first glance the plot has that familiar and unadventurous look to it. Hell, sometimes all we want from our 50s B grade Westerns is Randy Scott taking up arms and slaying some ruffians. Yet Twists' story throws up a number of interesting points of worth, notably the core weapon in the narrative of the pen being mightier than the sword (or 6 shooter in this instance). It also launches itself from an attention grabbing tragedy, from which Scott's character really has to take stock of things once he gets in town.

True enough to say this is more talky and character forming than the many "yeehaw" histrionic based Western B's from the 50s. But this does have enough adrenalin boosting scenes to see off any charge of it being mundane. Train robberies, a stampede, shoot outs and plenty of shifty stalkings put in an appearance. While it also has some extremely cool moments to digest: a switch gun manoeuvre between Scott & Brian is cheekily great; and the sight of Scott finally strapping on his pearl handled guns is akin to Clark Kent donning the red underpants and cape. Seriously. Technically there's some stock footage that only itches rather than hinders (if you have seen Dodge City it's déjà vu), but by and large this is a gorgeous production; one that's got a tremendous transfer on to DVD.

Attention to detail in its narrative and smartly acted by the principals, Fort Worth is well worth the time of the discerning Western fan. 7/10

Fort Worth is fast-moving, well cast, well acted, and well executed all the way around. Scott actually has two different mentors, one Phyllis Thaxter's late father and the other a high-minded newspaperman who is knifed by a thug. He uses both of them to build and transition his character in a more layered performance than typical of the normally stoic Scott. Thaxter is terrific in every scene she's in, but better still is Brian as the magnate who persuades former boyhood friend Scott to stay in Fort Worth. He is part-villain and part-hero and extremely interesting and credible throughout. The plot is atypically complex with many threads all woven together well and wrapped up in a satisfying manner. Dick Moore (former child actor Dickie) is terrific as Scott's newspaperman who helps Scott keep alive the spirit of Ben, their mentor publisher. The thugs are all convincingly ruthless and interesting, including Ray Teal as the leader, supported by Bob Steele, Paul Picerni, and Michael TOlan among others. The color cinematography and production values are also first-rate and the pacing is perfect.

If you enjoy Randolph Scott westerns, don't miss this superior entry.

Warner Brothers had a thing for "city westerns" ever since the success of DODGE CITY in 1939. In its wake followed VIRGINIA CITY, SAN ANTONIO, CHEYENNE, DALLAS, CARSON CITY and this 1951 tale, the last film of director Edwin L. Marin. Marin and star Randolph Scott had previously worked on many films together, including some oaters for RKO as well as Christmas EVE, Scott's last non-western. Here they were doing a follow-up to their successful COLT 45 for Warners in 1950.

In this one, Scott stars as a reformed gunman, now "shooting" lead type from a printing press rather than bullets from a six shooter. Not intending to set up shop in his old home town, when he comes across a nearly vanquished Ft. Worth, and spurred by the death of a child which was the result of a cattle stampede caused by the errant shot of of member of the Clevenger Gang, Scott opts to use the power of the press to bring settlers back to the city and achieve justice for the slain boy. The death of a child is a plot turn that goes back to the first in the series, DODGE CITY. In that film the child was played by Dickie Jones, here, twelve years later, Jones plays Scott's reporter Luther Wick, soon he'd be on his way into the hearts of millions of kids in the series THE RANGE RIDER, followed by BUFFALO BILL, JR.

David Brian co-stars as a man banking his future on the future of Fort Worth by buying up options on properties abandoned by those terrorized by the Clevenger gang. But as Scott's mentor wonders, if Brian cares so much for the town, why is he letting its population dwindle from 5000 to less than 1000? Could it be to be able to secure more options, is he in cahoots with Clevenger? Plot twists cause he and Scott to take on an alliance at times, while at others, they're inches away from gunning each other down, and rivals for the hand of Phyllis Thaxter.

Clevenger is played by Ray Teal, known to most as Sheriff Coffee from BONANZA. Often villainous in these things, he outdoes himself here by occasionally being quite charming in his delivery - perhaps his glee at being given more dialog than he usually gets and more screen time also. Another fine performance is given by Emerson Treacy as Ben Garvin, Scott's partner in the Fort Worth Star and his teacher in ways of the press. Usually uncredited in scores of films, he makes the most of his screen time.

The DVD offers glorious Technicolor, the detail right down to Scott's pearl-handled pistols is a sight to behold. The film is packaged with two other Randolph Scott features, COLT 45 and TALL MAN RIDING. and at 15 bucks list price, they're one of the great bargains a Scott fan is likely to find.