Joe Dakota

JOE DAKOTA, directed by Richard Bartlett in 1957, is one of the best B Westerns I remember watching. Jock Mahoney, Charles McGraw (playing villain against type), Luana Patten, Claude Akins and Lee Van Cleef were all B picture names in 1957. Van Cleef went on to earn some considerable visibility with leading roles in Spaghetti Westerns in the late 60s.

Despite their modest status, all act rather competently in a solid and credible Western done at a point when racism was beginning to come into question in US society and the world at large. As another crit points out, it bears some similarities with the storyline of BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK, done two years earlier.

In spite of some similarities, the script is very good in that it slowly draws out its real aim. Jock Mahoney does particularly well as the calm stranger with "the gall" to stand up to an entire town to try to learn about the Indian who was hanged for reportedly trying to rape a white girl.

His initial visit to the oil rig, Akins and van Cleef dropping him in the oil pool, and his bath in the town's watering hole are sequences of the highest quality, far above and beyond what one would expect from a B pic.

JOE DAKOTA keeps its slow, deliberate pace throughout, until the final showdown, but it is arresting throughout thanks to credible dialogue.

I had never heard of it, and accidentally found it on Youtube. As an avid Western watcher, I just had to watch this hitherto unknown flick, and I am glad I did.

I recommend it, too!

A good film for Jocko fans and western fans in general. Seems to be a remake of "Bad Day at Black Rock" with a few changes. Mahoney is the stranger coming to town as Spencer Tracy was in "Black Rock". The old Indian that's missing was and older Japanese man in "Black Rock", and the town seems to be hiding something just like the townspeople in "Black Rock". Jocko investigates and irritates the townspeople just like Spencer Tracy did in "Black Rock". Mahoney always looks good on a horse and this film is no exception. There are a couple of good fight scenes with Jocko doing all his own stunts as usual. Could have used more action, but all in all is a good western.

I saw this movie when I was younger and never forgot the story, but I couldn't recall the title. I'm so glad to find it after a long search. A man called Joe Dakota arrives in a small western town in California looking for his friend, an old Native American who owns a farm nearby. Why is there such secrecy around the old man's disappearance? Nobody in town wants to talk about it. The mystery slowly unfolds as Joe Dakota launches an investigation. One scene that was unforgettable to me was the bathing scene with the sound of meadowlark birds singing in the background. Great story!

I stumbled upon this movie one day on Encore Westerns, our favorite channel and it is very well done! Joe Dakota was well written and played out very nicely. It was sweet and charming along with great character development and extremely witty. Unlike some other classic westerns that are "to cute" and wrap up quickly to a very predictable end, this movie was fluid and swept you right along a smooth ride! A must see for any true classic western lover! Jock Mahoney was great! I will truly look out for more of his work in the future! His role was thought out and kept you thinking and wondering up until that "uh huh!" moment. I can only say I'm disappointed it took me this long to see it!

This is a pretty nice little western though inspired - it is so obvious - by John Sturge's BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK. Yes, it is well done, full of charm and charisma, helped by a Jock Mahoney as convincing as ever. There is nothing spectacular, as in any Richard Bartlett's movie, nearly an oater, so for once I advise you to forget cavalry, Indians on warpath, outlaws, and focus on this cute story of a man in search of his pal. It is not a harsh drama, on the contrary, light hearted movie, perfect for sunday matinees at home or in your favourite theater. Of course, Sturges' film was far far better in terms of directing and overall making matters, and the actors different too: Spence Tracy, Bob Ryan, Ernest Borgnine.... But is was not a grade B picture either.