Dakota (1945)
-
42% of users liked it
(144 ratings)
According to Hollywood lore, both John Wayne and director Frank Borzage refused to work with Vera Hruba Ralston, the Czech-born inamorata (and future wife) of Republic Pictures owner Herbert I. Yates. Yates somehow managed to convince Wayne to change his mind, but Borzage was replaced by contract… More According to Hollywood lore, both John Wayne and director Frank Borzage refused to work with Vera Hruba Ralston, the Czech-born inamorata (and future wife) of Republic Pictures owner Herbert I. Yates. Yates somehow managed to convince Wayne to change his mind, but Borzage was replaced by contract director Joseph Kane. The result was Dakota, the company's major release of 1945, a potentially sprawling empire-building Western. Wayne and Ralston play newlyweds heading for Fargo, North Dakota, where they plan to buy land in anticipation of the coming of the railroad. They are opposed by saloon owner Jim Bender (Ward Bond), who also knows about the expansion and is coercing the homesteaders into selling their land to him and his chief lieutenant, Collins (Mike Mazurki). The latter has been elected president of the Wheat Growers Association, and soon the farmers find themselves indebted to Bender. But Wayne, with his wife's help, beats Bender and his henchman at their own game, making certain that the farmers are well compensated for selling their land to the railroad company owned by Ralston's father (Hugo Haas). Contrary to popular belief, Vera Hruba Ralston was not Dakota's chief liability. For some reason, Republic Pictures, normally a leader in action-oriented melodrama, chose to employ an inordinate amount of rear projection footage this time around, making for rather dull viewing. The Western only leaves the confines of the studio back lot for the climactic prairie fire scenes, filmed by a second unit under the direction of stunt expert Yakima Canutt. Apparently a better figure skater than an actress, Ralston actually shows a bit of spirit in some of her scenes but is rather obviously upstaged by the veteran Ona Munson as a kind-hearted saloon entertainer. Munson was borrowed from Warner Bros. and her singing of "Coax Me" by Andrew B. Sterling and Harry Von Tilzer remains one of Dakota's main pleasures despite editor Fred Allen's endless cross-cutting to Ralston's reactions. The latter was reportedly a very pleasant person devoid of a prima donna ego and would be cast opposite John Wayne again in The Fighting Kentuckian (1949). Republic serial heroines Linda Stirling and Adrian Booth can be spotted among Munson's dancing girls. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi
- Directed By
- Joseph Kane
- Genres
- Western, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Dec 1, 1945 Wide
Critic Reviews
-
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
A weak adventure featuring John Wayne (before he became a star), mostly known today for its unsuccesful effort of making Czech Vera Raltson a Hollywood star.
-
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Languid at times and poorly paced.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
Currently unavailable on Flixster
Also available on
Other Retailers
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Subscription Services
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Cast
-
John Wayne
as John Devlin
-
Vera Ralston
as Sandy Poli
-
Walter Brennan
as Captain Bounce
-
Ward Bond
as Jim Bender
-
Mike Mazurki
as Bigtree Collins
-
Ona Munson
as Jersey Thomas
-
Olive Blakeney
as Mrs. Stowe
-
Hugo Haas
as Marko Poli
-
Nick Stewart [Nicodemus]
as Nicodemus
-
Paul Fix
as Carp
-
Grant Withers
as Slagin
-
Robert Livingston
as Lieutenant
-
Olin Howland
as Devlin's driver
-
Pierre Watkin
as Wexton Geary
-
Robert H. Barrat
as Anson Stowe (billed as Robert H. Barrat)
-
Jonathan Hale
as Col. Wordin
-
Paul Hurst
as Captain Spotts
-
Eddy Waller
as Stagecoach driver
-
Sarah Padden
as Mrs. Plummer
-
Jack LaRue
as Slade
-
George Cleveland
as Mr. Plummer
-
Selmar Jackson
as Dr. Judson
-
Claire Du Brey
as Wahtonka
-
Roy Barcroft
as Poli's driver
- Eugene Borden
-
Paul E. Burns
as Swede
-
Dorothy Christy
as Nora
- Peter Cusanelli
- Kenne Duncan
- Frances Gladwin
- Fred Graham
- Lorna Gray
- William Haade
-
Rex Lease
as Railroad Conductor
-
Cliff Lyons
as Bouncer
- LeRoy Mason
-
Al Murphy
as Trainman
- Jack Roper
-
Hector V. Sarno
as Italian
-
Houseley Stevenson Sr.
as Railroad Clerk
- Linda Stirling
-
Victor Varconi
as Frenchman
-
Michael Visaroff
as Russian
- Virginia Wave
-
Dick Wessel
as Roughneck
-
Robert Blake
as Little Boy
- Yakima Canutt
- Harriette Haddon
- Russ Kaplan
-
Arthur Miles
as Ciano
- Betty Shaw
-
Cay Forrester
as Entertainer
-
Larry Thompson
as Poli's Footman
