The Plainsman (1937)

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One is immediately aware that The Plainsman is a Cecil B. DeMille production in the opening scene, wherein President Abraham Lincoln (Frank McGlynn Sr.), on the verge of signing crucial legislation which will determine the future of the American West, is dragged away from his Cabinet by a scolding… More One is immediately aware that The Plainsman is a Cecil B. DeMille production in the opening scene, wherein President Abraham Lincoln (Frank McGlynn Sr.), on the verge of signing crucial legislation which will determine the future of the American West, is dragged away from his Cabinet by a scolding Mrs. Lincoln (Leila McIntyre), who informs her husband that he'll be late for the theater! The story proper picks up in the years just following the Civil War, as crooked arms dealer John Lattimer (Charles Bickford) schemes to sell a huge shipment of repeating rifles to the Indians. Constantly thwarting Lattimer's schemes is lawman Wild Bill Hickok (Gary Cooper), who soon forms a strong alliance with Indian scout Buffalo Bill Cody (James Ellison). Rambunctious Calamity Jane (Jean Arthur) is crazy about Wild Bill, but he refuses to have anything to do with her, contemptuously wiping his mouth whenever he kisses her. He prefers the company of winsome Louisa (Dorothy Burgess), but gallantly steps aside when Louisa marries Buffalo Bill. Upon learning that a band of Indians armed with Lattimer's rifles have attacked a military garrison, Wild Bill tells General Custer (John Miljan), who in turn sends Buffalo Bill to the garrison with a consignment of weapons. Wild Bill then tries to arrange a peace conference with Indian chief Yellow Hand (Paul Harvey), but is sidetracked when he sees Calamity Jane being captured by two Indian braves. Riding to her rescue, Wild Bill is himself captured and tortured in the hope that he'll reveal the whereabouts of Buffalo Bill and his weapons. He refuses to talk, but Calamity, horrified at the agony endured by Wild Bill, tells all. Her breach of confidence leads indirectly to Custer's death at the Little Big Horn (not seen, but described by a young Indian played by DeMille's then son-in-law Anthony Quinn), whereupon Wild Bill disgustedly breaks off all communication with her. Hoping to make up for her past sins, Calamity warns Wild Bill that Lattimer has come to town a-gunning for him. Wild Bill makes short work of Lattimer, only to be shot in the back by the villain's snivelling confederate Jack McCall (Porter Hall). As he breathes his last, Wild Bill forgives Calamity for revealing the whereabouts of the ammunition; with tears in her eyes, Calamity plants a kiss on Wild Bill's lips that he'll never wipe off. As can be seen, accuracy is not the strong suit of The Plainsman; DeMille, like Buffalo Bill before him, was more interested in putting on a helluva good show than offering a dry history lesson. Unfortunately, the film often promises more than it can deliver, thanks to DeMille's insistence upon filming more of his big scenes indoors and relying far too heavily on grainy process screens. Still, the DeMille version of The Plainsman is infinitely more entertaining than the 1966 remake with Don Murray and Abby Dalton. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 53 min.
Directed By: Cecil B. DeMille
Written By: Jeanie Macpherson
Genres: Western, Drama, Romance, Classics

In Theaters: Nov 16, 1936 Wide
On DVD: Jun 1, 2004
Studio: MCA Universal Home Video

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Plays fast and loose with history.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Byron B

DeMille attempts his standard epic story. Like the opening text states, which scrolls by similarly to Star Wars' opening, the story plays loosely with history in order to condense events and characters that "conquered" the west. It is full of themes of Manifest Destiny,… More
DeMille attempts his standard epic story. Like the opening text states, which scrolls by similarly to Star Wars' opening, the story plays loosely with history in order to condense events and characters that "conquered" the west. It is full of themes of Manifest Destiny, "wild" white men who decimate supposedly savage Native Americans to make the west safe for fragile homemaking women, or even the tom-boyish types like Calamity Jane. The stars Cooper as Wild Bill Hickok and Arthur as Calamity Jane are both likeable, but have had better roles elsewhere. Ellison as Buffalo Bill Cody (let me tell you, it is confusing with two characters named Bill!) was an unknown to me. He does an acceptable job standing eye to eye with the 6' 3" Cooper. Bickford as a John Latimer pulls off a somewhat menacing villain. I didn't like the racist portrayal of the Native Americans. I liked how both frontiersmen, both Bills, had the skills for tracking and killing because they were veterans of the Civil War and yet they were "long-hairs" who couldn't fit in in civilization. Yet, I don't think this movie explored those themes enough.

Cast

            Gary Cooper as Wild Bill Hickok

            Jean Arthur as Calamity Jane

            James Ellison as Buffalo Bill Cody

            Charles Bickford as John Latimer

            Helen Burgess as Louisa Cody

            Porter Hall as Jack McCall

            Paul Harvey as Chief Yellow Hand

            Victor Varconi as Painted Horse

            John Miljan as Gen. George Armstrong Custer

            Frank Albertson as Young Trooper

            Frank McGlynn Sr. as Abraham Lincoln

            Granville Bates as Van Ellyn

            Purnell Pratt as Capt. Wood

            Fred Kohler as Jake

            George 'Gabby' Hayes as Breezy

            Charles Judels as Tony the barber

            Lona Andre as Southern Belle

            Arthur Ayleswofth as Van Ellyn Assistant

            Irving Bacon as Hysterical Trooper

            Hank Bell as Bit part

            Lane Chandler as Bit part

            Davison Clark as James Speed

            George Cleveland as Van Ellyn's Assistant

            Edgar Dearing as Custer's Messenger

            Tex Driscoll
            
            George Ernest as An Urchin

            Franklin Farnum
            
            Charles Herzinger as William H. Seward

            William Humphrey as Hugh McCulloch

            John Hyams as Schuyler Colfax

            Sidney Jarvis as Gideon Welles

            Noble Johnson
            
            Jane Keckley
            
            Fuzzy Knight as Miner Dave

            Fred Kohler Jr. as Jack

            Francis McDonald as River Gambler

            George MacQuarrie as Gen. Merritt

            Wilbur Mack
            
            Edwin Maxwell as Stanton

            Leila McIntyre as Mary Todd Lincoln

            Pat Moriarity as Sgt. McGinnis

            Ted Oliver
            
            Bud Osborne
            
            Francis Sayles
            
            Charles Stevens as Injun Charlie

            Harry Stubbs as John F. Usher

            Bruce Warren as Captain of the Lizzie Gill

            Stanhope Wheatcroft
            
            Douglas Wood as Van Ellyn Assistant

            Hank Worden as Deadwood Townsman

            Francis Ford as Veteran

            Dennis O'Keefe as Bit part

            Anthony Quinn as Cheyenne Warrior

            Harry Woods as Quartermaster Sergeant

            Gail Sheridan as Bit part

            Wadsworth Harris as William Dennison

            Blackjack Ward
            
            Cora Shumway
            
            James Mason
            
            Mark Strong as Wells Fargo Agent
See full cast