Customer Reviews

Woman of the Town [VHS]

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This review refers to " The Woman Of the Town" (1944)

This film is a real treat for fans of Claire Trevor. Filmed in Black and White, it's a wonderful old oater and a great story.

Bat Masterson(Albert Dekker), now an old newspaper man, sits behind the desk at his job in New York. The year is 1919 and a gun collector is interested in obtaining the guns that cleaned up Dodge City when Masterson was Marshal. Masterson, has long since buried his guns in the Boot Hill Cemetary, and he takes us back 50 years earlier to tell us the story.

Dodge City...Newly appointed as Marshal, Masterson meets Dora Hand(Trevor), a charming saloon singer with a heart of gold. Bat's first order of business though, is to save the town from cattle kingpin, King Kennedy. Kennedy and his men have control over the town, and Kennedy also turns out to be a rival to Masterson for Dora's affection(although neither Dora nor Bat will admit how they feel about each other). When a tragic turn of events occurs, Bat vows to clean up Dodge!

Trevor is as always,wonderful. Barry Sullivan is King Kennedy and watch for Charley Foy reenacting a performance of Eddie Foy Sr. Also included in the cast are Dewey Robinson and Henry Hull.

I have this on DVD but it is not from the studio listed on the buying info here. It is part of "The Great American Western Series" put out by Platinum Disc and is on Volume 16, which also includes 3 other films. From 1931 "The Fighting Caravans" with Gary Cooper, "The Proud and the Damned" from 1969 with Chuck Conners, and a recent fabulous documentary about real cowboys who drove cattle.

If you have been looking for this film(I see there are 2 buyers waiting for it), try these Western series. The DVD's are not pristeen, the older films really show their age at times, the ones from the 60's and 70's may seem a little washed out, but they are a great price,there's nothing to interfere with the viewing pleasure of these old films, there are many to choose from and a great deal for the true oater lover.

Saddle Up and Happy Trails....Laurie

I saw this movie on TV many years ago and was quite pleased to see it was being released on DVD. Where the movie is a good story, well written and a good cast of actors to portray their roles, I wish I saved my money because the picture quality is soooo poor that I will never watch this DVD again and probably relegate it to the trash can. I recommend this movie if a good quality of it is ever released. Save your money and wait for it to surface on TCM or some other agenda.

Despite Mr. Maltin's high opinion, this is definitely a Grade B western, despite Claire Trevor's attempts to act as if it weren't. Albert Dekker is a boring Bat Masterson and Barry Sullivan his befuddled rival. Girlfriend shared - Trevor - tries to get Bat to give up his guns for journalism. Inexplicable Oscar nom for a mediocre score. Avoid this one unless you have insomnia.