La Terreur des sans-loi

Once more, I had to endure a Sam Katzman's production, this time a western, supposed to tell the story of Bat Masterson, a conquest of the West figure, authentic character, who would have deserved better than being evoked by this awful Sam Katzman producer. William Castle, the future horror gimmick films genius, could not do anything against this plague named Katzman who condemned him to mediocrity in the studio; such a talented, gifted director. It is a good time waster though, but you have to keep out of your head the idea that such a plot would have been ten times better, produced by an Harry Joe Brown or Howard Christie. Well, we have to deal with it, we have no choice.

Although the friendship of Marshal Wyatt Earp and gunfighter/gambler Doc Holiday is frontier legend and the subject of several movies, Dodge City's other famous lawman Bat Masterson and Holiday did not have the same feelings. That is the premise on which Masterson Of Kansas is built around, although the two are forced into alliance by exigent circumstances.

George Montgomery is in the title role and James Griffith plays Doc Holiday. The exigent circumstances are a threatened Indian war when John Maxwell who has worked for peace is accused of murdering the commanding officer at Fort Dodge on perjured testimony of David Bruce.

It all doesn't smell right to Montgomery who finds proof enough in the Indian village of Jay Silverheels the Comanche chief. At least proof enough for him if not the white man's court. After that he's on a mission to clear Maxwell and maybe win his daughter's hand who is played by Nancy Gates.

And if Montgomery and Griffith don't have enough to fight about the sight of Gates puts them both in heat. Bruce Cowling as Wyatt Earp has enough on his hands to keep these two from killing each other.

Masterson Of Kansas is a nice no frills B western directed by William Castle in a straightforward style that does not portray his penchant for gimmicky horror films. Doc Holiday is always an interesting character and James Griffith joins a respectable pantheon of players who have played Holiday over the years like, Cesar Romero, Victor Mature, Jason Robards, Jr., Kirk Douglas, and Val Kilmer. Griffith yields to none of them.

Fans of westerns and George Montgomery westerns will have little to complain about with Masterson Of Kansas.

Brings together Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Doc Holliday in an ol western... the usual cowboys and Indians. Stars George Montgomery, James Griffith, and Bruce Cowling. In Dodge City, it's the cattlemen against Merrick, the man helping the native americans, and Masterson is determined to bring justice if he can. kind of ironic that part of it is filmed in Griffith Park, but doesn't seem to be connected to James Griffith. it's the usual western shenanigans. pretty good... very linear story-line. nothing too new here. Directed by William Castle; he had started in westerns... ended up as the horror movie king in the 1950s and 1960s. Castle also directed House on Haunted Hill ( and lesser known The Tingler !) with Vincent Price.

Bat Masterson (George Montgomery) is a gunslinger. Masterson, Wyatt Earp (Bruce Cowling) and Doc Holliday (James Griffith) work together to protect an impending land exchange between honest rancher Merrick (John Maxwell) and peace-seeking Indian chief Yellow Hawk (Jay Silverheels) against the crooked chicanery of land baron Clay Bennett (David Bruce). Nancy Gates ( Comanche station) is the daughter of Merrick, who is sentenced to hang, but believes him innocent ...

A fairly good shoot-em up, which does what it says on its tin and offers good entertainment. James Griffith as Doc Holliday is a scene stealer, and gives this nifty B-programmer some gravitas, and Montgomery is his usual likeable and stalwart self as Bat Masterson.

Masterson of Kansas (1954)

** (out of 4)

Decent, if by the numbers, Western has Bat Masterson (George Montgomery) and Doc Holliday (James Griffith) about to shoot it out when Wyatt Earp (Bruce Cowling) breaks it up. Soon a friend to the Indians is convicted of a crime he didn't commit and the Indians are threatening violence if the man dies for the crime. Now it's up to Bat, Doc and Earp to try and figure out who the real killer is. William Castle will always be remembered for the cheap horror movies he made at the end of his career and it's pretty funny to look back on his earlier days because you'll see countless Westerns that he did for Columbia. This here is one of them and it's certainly a lot better than some he made but at the same time no one is going to confuse this for the work of John Ford. I think for the most part the film remains childish and fun as there's never anything for you to take too serious. If you're into history then it's best to skip this film as there are many liberties taken but I guess that should go without saying. I thought mixing up the three characters made for an entertaining picture and I think the stuff with the Indians also made for some mild entertainment. The majority of the running time is dialogue with the three men constantly arguing with one another and making threats that you know will never happen. I did enjoy the cast with Griffith easily stealing the film as Holliday. He brings a certain toughness to the role but also handles some of the quieter moments dealing with his illness. Montgomery is a tad bit stiff but this actually helps the character and Cowling is fun as Earp. There have been countless films with Doc and Earp so if you want something serious then it's best to look elsewhere. This film here is just 72-minutes worth a "B" fun. Nothing serious. Just mindless entertainment.