Badman's Territory
Badman’s Territory, 1946 packed more bad men into a veritable owl hoot’s Who’s Who than the Oklahoma Territory could hold. For that you need law men. Randolph Scott as good guy lawman Mark Rowley and bad guy lawman, U.S. Marshall Bill Hampton (Morgan Conway). With statehood on the line for a law and order prize, newspaper editor, statehood advocate, and Rowley romantic interest, Henryetta Alcot (Ann Richards) filled the bill. Team Rowley with Coyote (Gabby Hayes) and you are ready for outlaws.
Did Badman’s Territory have ‘em. Start with the James Gang, Jesse and Frank. Then bring on the Dalton’s, Bob, Grat, and Bill. Throw in Ben Wade before Yuma had a 3:10 or Sam Bass to rob it. And what would a bevy of bad men be without a Belle Star holding up the feminine side of bad? Could the west could have survived all that bad in one place? Not to worry. Enough law and order was won for statehood to arrive, and you guessed it . . . Randolph got the girl.
Among the amazing things about this 1hr and 38min production was the cast. Thirty-nine strong. They must not have had enough film to finish the credits. Fully half of the roles, nineteen to be exact, went uncredited. With all that credit outstanding, 2hrs and 54mins of film remained to be divided between two sequels.
Return of the Bad Men 1948, returns to Oklahoma Territory (statehood having been delayed for some reason) with a whole new cast of bad guys to test Scott’s role as lawman Vance. The bad started with The Sundance Kid (Robert Ryan) before Butch had a Hole in the Wall. Ready for anything Vance and sidekick “Gabby” again took on the Younger’s Cole, Jim, and John, along with the Dalton’s Emmett, Bob, and Grat. If that weren’t hands full enough, bring it . . . Billy The Kid and Wild Bill Doolin. Bad as this gets the likes of Curly Bill Brocious and John Ringo must feel left out.
We said there were two sequels. Best of the Badmen, 1951 rounds out the trilogy without Scott. Robert Ryan Joins the Clanton’s as Jeff, sharing bad with the James boys, Younger’s, and wait for it – a character named Curly Ringo, sentimental salve for history’s forgotten forlorn.
Next Week: Quintessential Sidekick
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Ride easy,
Paul
Did Badman’s Territory have ‘em. Start with the James Gang, Jesse and Frank. Then bring on the Dalton’s, Bob, Grat, and Bill. Throw in Ben Wade before Yuma had a 3:10 or Sam Bass to rob it. And what would a bevy of bad men be without a Belle Star holding up the feminine side of bad? Could the west could have survived all that bad in one place? Not to worry. Enough law and order was won for statehood to arrive, and you guessed it . . . Randolph got the girl.
Among the amazing things about this 1hr and 38min production was the cast. Thirty-nine strong. They must not have had enough film to finish the credits. Fully half of the roles, nineteen to be exact, went uncredited. With all that credit outstanding, 2hrs and 54mins of film remained to be divided between two sequels.
Return of the Bad Men 1948, returns to Oklahoma Territory (statehood having been delayed for some reason) with a whole new cast of bad guys to test Scott’s role as lawman Vance. The bad started with The Sundance Kid (Robert Ryan) before Butch had a Hole in the Wall. Ready for anything Vance and sidekick “Gabby” again took on the Younger’s Cole, Jim, and John, along with the Dalton’s Emmett, Bob, and Grat. If that weren’t hands full enough, bring it . . . Billy The Kid and Wild Bill Doolin. Bad as this gets the likes of Curly Bill Brocious and John Ringo must feel left out.
We said there were two sequels. Best of the Badmen, 1951 rounds out the trilogy without Scott. Robert Ryan Joins the Clanton’s as Jeff, sharing bad with the James boys, Younger’s, and wait for it – a character named Curly Ringo, sentimental salve for history’s forgotten forlorn.
Next Week: Quintessential Sidekick
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
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