Retro Western Excitement: Dodge City (1939) starring Errol Flynn

Some years ago I spent a considerable amount of time researching the great Errol Flynn’s life. This resulted in a few magazine articles and eventually a biography published in 2004. I am proud to have been at the forefront of a revival of interest in Flynn’s career, a revival that continues to this day. I have been consistent in stating that Flynn’s first western, Dodge City, is a classic. Dodge City is given scant attention by fans, scholars, and bloggers. Too much is made of the fact that Flynn stated he felt miscast in Westerns. He was effective in these roles and the films were fun. Give Dodge City another look.  The film’s elements will seem familiar because after this its many iconic scenes were emulated in thousands of westerns. Dodge City set the standard high and remains a fine example of “filmmaking as entertainment” par excellent. A cattle stampede, a saloon brawl, a gunfight on a train, galloping horses and blazing six-shooters. All in Technicolor with a Max Steiner score. Flynn, Olivia De Havilland, Alan Hale, Guinn Williams, and Bruce Cabot and Victor Jory as the bad guys. Flynn’s other westerns are: Virginia City (1940), Santa Fe Trail (1940), They Died With Their Boots On (1942), San Antonio (1945), Silver River (1948), Montana (1950) and Rocky Mountain (1950). For an in-depth look at Dodge City and the now legendary press junket find a copy of my book Errol Flynn: The Life and Career published by McFarland Publishers. Visit their website HERE 

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