Dakota ** (1945, John Wayne, Vera Ralston, Walter Brennan) – Classic Movie Review 6,744

Republic Pictures’ 1945 American Western film Dakota is directed by Joseph Kane, and stars John Wayne, Vera Hruba Ralston, Walter Brennan, Ward Bond, Ona Munson, Hugo Haas and Mike Mazurki.

Producer-director Joseph Kane’s robustly performed, competently handled but unfocused and unexciting 1945 Republic studios Western stars John Wayne, Vera [Hruba] Ralston and Walter Brennan. It is written by Lawrence Hazard and Howard Estabrook, based on a story by Carl Foreman.

John Wayne stars as sagebrush drifter John Devlin, who falls for Sandy (Vera Ralston), the daughter of millionaire railroad pioneer tycoon Marko Poli (Hugo Haas), then weds her and makes off with her to Fargo in Dakota Territory.  Then they get embroiled amidst a territorial battle between crooks and farmers, as Devlin battles outlaws led by Jim Bender (Ward Bond).

A fine collection of Western character actors gives Dakota a real lift and, of course, it is a must for Wayne’s many fans. But an apparently uncommitted Wayne, reportedly at loggerheads with his co-star Ralston, is not seen at his best.

Also in the cast are Ward Bond, Ona Munson, Mike Mazurki, Paul Fix, Grant Withers, Jack LaRue, Olive Blakeney, Robert Livingston, Olin Howlin, Pierre Watkin, Robert H Barrat, Jonathan Hale, Robert Blake, Paul Hurst, Sara Padden, George Cleveland, Selmer Jackson, and Roy Barcroft.

It was the Christmas treat of 1945, release on December 25, 1945.

The crew

Dakota is directed by Joseph Kane, runs 82 minutes, is made and distributed by Republic Pictures, is written by Lawrence Hazard and Howard Estabrook, based on a story by Carl Foreman, is shot in black and white by Jack A Marta, is produced by Joseph Kane, is scored by Walter Scharf, and is designed by Russel Kimball.

Release date: December 25, 1945.

The cast

The cast are John Wayne as John Devlin, Vera Hruba Ralston as Sandy Poli, Walter Brennan as Captain Bounce of the Riverbird, 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 (as Nicodemus Stewart) as Nicodemus, Paul Fix as Carp, Grant Withers as Slagin, Robert Livingston as Lieutenant, Olin Howland (as Olin Howlin) as Devlin’s driver, Pierre Watkin as Wexton Geary, Robert Barrat (as Robert H Barrat) as Anson Stowe, Jonathan Hale as Colonel Wordin, Robert Blake (as Bobby Blake) as Little Boy, Paul Hurst as Captain Spotts, Eddy Waller as Stagecoach Driver, Sarah Padden as Mrs Plummer. Jack La Rue as Suade, George Cleveland as Mr Plummer, Selmer Jackson as Dr Judson, Claire Du Brey as Wahtonka, Roy Barcroft as Poli’s Driver.

Vera

Vera Ralston (born Věra Helena Hrubá) married Republic Studios head Herbert Yates in 1952. He was nearly 40 years older. She starred in 26 films and retired from films in 1958.

As a figure skater, Ralston represented Czechoslovakia in competition under her birth name Věra Hrubá. She competed at the 1936 European Figure Skating Championships and competed at the 1936 Winter Olympics, where she placed 17th. During the games, she met and insulted Adolf Hitler. Hitler asked her if she would like to “skate for the swastika.” She recalled, “I looked him right in the eye, and said that I’d rather skate on the swastika. The Führer was furious.”

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6,744

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com