The Plainsman (1937)
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48% of users liked it
(1,307 ratings)
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
- Directed By
- Cecil B. DeMille
- Written By
- Jeanie Macpherson
- Genres
- Western, Drama, Romance, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Nov 16, 1936 Wide
- On DVD
- Jun 1, 2004
- Studio
- MCA Universal Home Video
Critic Reviews
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
There's good rapport between Cooper as Wild Bill and Jean Arthur as Calamity Jane in DeMille's lavish historical spectacle.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Plays fast and loose with history.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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Gary Cooper
as Wild Bill Hickok
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Jean Arthur
as Calamity Jane
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James Ellison
as Buffalo Bill Cody
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Charles Bickford
as John Latimer
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Helen Burgess
as Louisa Cody
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Porter Hall
as Jack McCall
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Paul Harvey
as Chief Yellow Hand
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Victor Varconi
as Painted Horse
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John Miljan
as Gen. George Armstrong Custer
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Frank Albertson
as Young Trooper
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Frank McGlynn Sr.
as Abraham Lincoln
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Granville Bates
as Van Ellyn
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Purnell Pratt
as Capt. Wood
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Fred Kohler
as Jake
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George 'Gabby' Hayes
as Breezy
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Charles Judels
as Tony the barber
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Lona Andre
as Southern Belle
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Arthur Ayleswofth
as Van Ellyn Assistant
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Irving Bacon
as Hysterical Trooper
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Hank Bell
as Bit part
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Lane Chandler
as Bit part
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Davison Clark
as James Speed
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George Cleveland
as Van Ellyn's Assistant
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Edgar Dearing
as Custer's Messenger
- Tex Driscoll
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George Ernest
as An Urchin
- Franklin Farnum
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Charles Herzinger
as William H. Seward
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William Humphrey
as Hugh McCulloch
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John Hyams
as Schuyler Colfax
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Sidney Jarvis
as Gideon Welles
- Noble Johnson
- Jane Keckley
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Fuzzy Knight
as Miner Dave
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Fred Kohler Jr.
as Jack
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Francis McDonald
as River Gambler
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George MacQuarrie
as Gen. Merritt
- Wilbur Mack
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Edwin Maxwell
as Stanton
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Leila McIntyre
as Mary Todd Lincoln
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Pat Moriarity
as Sgt. McGinnis
- Ted Oliver
- Bud Osborne
- Francis Sayles
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Charles Stevens
as Injun Charlie
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Harry Stubbs
as John F. Usher
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Bruce Warren
as Captain of the Lizzie Gill
- Stanhope Wheatcroft
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Douglas Wood
as Van Ellyn Assistant
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Hank Worden
as Deadwood Townsman
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Francis Ford
as Veteran
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Dennis O'Keefe
as Bit part
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Anthony Quinn
as Cheyenne Warrior
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Harry Woods
as Quartermaster Sergeant
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Gail Sheridan
as Bit part
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Wadsworth Harris
as William Dennison
- Blackjack Ward
- Cora Shumway
- James Mason
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Mark Strong
as Wells Fargo Agent
