The Marshal of Mesa City

Former US Marshal Cliff Mason arrives in Mesa City and finds the town terrorised by an outlaw gang and the town's sheriff. 'You're the one man who can make this a civilised place to live in', says the pretty school-teacher. So the marshal decides to do just that..

Leon Ames is excellent as a slimy crooked sheriff who runs Mesa City with an iron fist and harasses the schoolteacher- Virginia Vale is charming and beautiful in the role - to the point that she has to leave. He's what you would call a sex pest. The sense of danger that Virginia Vale is in and her helplessness is well done. Even when she leaves town, Ames sends his cronies to bring her back. Que: George O' Brien, a seasoned Marshal, is his usual breezy self, and handles the bad guys with ease.

Marshal of Mesa City is a well-plotted and engaging western with fairly sharp dialogue and some shoot em up to keeps things brimming. The finale is quite tense with fire smoke shrouding the town and a shootout occurring.

It's Mesa City, Arizona 1880. The town is a violent place run by corrupt Sheriff Jud Cronin (Leon Ames). School teacher Virginia King (Virginia Vale) has had enough of the violence and Jud's advances. She is set to leave town. Her stagecoach is stopped by Jud's men. Retired lawman Cliff Mason (George O'Brien) comes to her rescue. He gets selected as the new Marshal. Cronin sends in infamous gunman Duke Allison (Henry Brandon).

It's an old fashion western. The good guy is in white. There is a damsel in distress. It's simplistic. It's old school. On the superficial side, George O'Brien is a bit wide. I'd like a fitter actor as the leading man. Duke is the more compelling character. If Cliff is Wyatt Earp, Duke is his Doc Holliday. Apparently, this is a remake of The Arizonian (1935). I've never seen that movie. It could be this has all the standard premise that is in every other western.

I thought I'd get your attention. This movie may not be any better than Stagecoach but I submit it's just as good and twice as entertaining.

Other reviewers have down a good job declaring the merits of this oater and particularly the obvious parallels it shows between its plot and the Wyatt Earp story. If you like Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer then you'll enjoy George O'Brien as Wyatt Earp, I mean Cliff Mason, and Henry Brandon as Doc Holiday, I mean Duke Allison. Duke has been hired to shoot down Marshall Mason but is taken by his character - and even reluctantly becomes his Deputy. Watch Mason Ala Wyatt Earp walk straight into the group of surly armed outlaws led by hulking Harry Cording and disarm them all with his icy gaze and fearless demeanor. The final shootout that takes place in a cloud of smoke and dust years before John Ford shot the OK Corral shootout in My Darling Clementine in a similar manner is very effective. Give this one a chance, western fans, and see what you think.

Turner Classic Movies made a recent Monday morning memorable by presenting this little-known (in fact, unknown to me) gem.

First, the cast was one of the most impressive ever found in a B western, including as a bad guy the excellent Leon Ames. Mr. Ames, suave and debonair and very citified in so many films, was just about perfect as a corrupt sheriff.

His henchmen, not necessarily big names, were all huge in talent and were absolutely delightful to watch. Hmmm, "delightful" might be misleading: I don't mean they were fun, because they were, after all, bad guys, but I do mean they were such great cowboy villains that it was a real treat to see them getting an opportunity to perform in a high-class western.

George O'Brien was actually not very tall, despite a reference to that effect by the leading lady, the more than lovely Virginia Vale. But he was very manly and had a great physique, looking like a weight-lifter, and he could move gracefully and handle his fight scenes well.

In scenes where he attempted to intimidate bad guys without using his weapons, he was, therefore, very believable.

One very surprising actor, one I didn't, I blush to admit, recognize (and I used to see him at Sons of the Desert meetings when I lived in Los Angeles), was the great Henry Brandon in an unusual role.

Naturally, being Henry Brandon, he was winning and likable, and also very believable.

Western fans will love this; classic movie fans will love this; movie history buffs will love this. I know I did.

A low budget movie about a corrupt sheriff, a pretty school marm, and a drafted marshal is a likely recipe for the routine. MOMC not only avoids the routine but also raises itself above many "A" westerns of the 40's and 50's. The four principals are all excellent and bring life to their characters. Ames is convincingly detestable as the scheming suitor who can't understand "no", all the while maintaining his private gang of hoods. Vale, the co-star of a number of O'Brien westerns, has an appealing vivacity and makes one understand why Ames is infatuated. Henry Brandon has an interesting role as Duke Allison, a gunfighter brought in to handle O'Brien. His entrance in a saloon is a standout. Another nice moment is when he "turns in" his gun to O'Brien. If you look closely, you'll see he isn't completely comfortable handling his six-shooters but this is a minor quibble and doesn't detract from his performance. George O'Brien brings an easy going confidence to his role as an ex-marshal just trying to get on with his life. He's not non-violent in the Destry mold but he doesn't seek confrontation as many "B" western marshals would. I don't know how real western marshals acted but I would expect some would act with the quiet, low key manner of O'Brien's. Much of the credit for the standout moments in this movie go to the writers including the uncredited Academy Award winning writer Dudley Nichols. The script clearly is a cut or two above most movies of this ilk. A good cast and script can only go so far, however, without a director equal to them. As Howard proves, one doesn't need a big budget when provided good ingredients and recipe. He gets the most out of the characters and makes them real people, people with personalities you believe. The climactic showdown in the smoke is an inspired scene that brings a close to this worthy movie.

This isn't the greatest western ever or even a great western. It won't replace Josey Wales in my video library and people won't be comparing it to High Noon. What it is is an excellent example of how much can be accomplished on a low budget with second tier, but not second rate, actors. It is a fine little western, better than many Randolph Scott oaters, and well worth a look.