Errol Flynn Straight-Shooting Hero

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 2, 3 January 1940, Page 5

Errol Flynn StraightShooting Hero

* ‘DODGE CITY,” TECHNICOLOUR EPIC (Regent: Coining soon.) Errol Flynn has a role that is, on the surface, altogether unlike any he has ever played before, for he is the straight-shooting hero of “Dodge City,” a film about the period when the little Kansas (U.S.A.) town of that name was the roughest and wickedest community of the old west. In Technicolour, ‘‘Dodge City” is a spirited and authentic re-creation of those hectic days in the 1870’s when the coming of the railroad to the little town at the northern end of Chisholm Trail made it the leading cattle shipping centre of that era. And its authenticity is lessened no whit by the fact that the obviously British Errol Flynn is depicted as the trail boss who has driven a hue herd of Texan longhorns up the Chisholm Trail and then, after his arrival in Dodge City, becomes sheriff who cleans up the wild and wicked town. He is explained as an Irish soldier-of-fortunc who had become a Texas cowboy after fighting for the So'ith in the American Civil War, and history contains several notable examples of adventurous Britons who became men to be feared in that virile era of an America in the hands of the pioneers. The story revolves about the war to the death between Flynn and the murderous gang of gun-fighters who Lave been in control of the town until his arrival, and it is replete with hair-rais-ing incidents. In the brilliant cast which supports Flynn are Oliva de Havilland, Ann

Sheridan, Bruce Cabot, Frank McHugh, Alan Hale, John Litel, Henry Travers, Henry O'Neill, Victor Jory, William Lundigan and Guinn “Big Boy” Williams.