BADMAN’S TERRITORY

US, 1946, 97 minutes, Black and white.
Randolph Scott, George ‘Gabby’ Hayes, Ann Richards, Ray Collins, Lawrence Tierney, Steve Brodie.
Directed by Tim Whelan.

Badman's Territory is familiar western material, a star vehicle of the mid 40s for the solid (if stolid) Randolph Scott. He is supported by George ‘Gabby’ Hayes, character actor in the Walter Brennan vein. The leading lady is Australian Ann Richards. The setting is Oklahoma territory, the Panhandle, forgotten by the Congress legislatures and a haven for western outlaws. The film involves the James and Dalton gangs and highlights the need for law and order in the west and the possibilities of the Panhandle becoming part of Oklahoma State.

1. Entertaining western? Law and Order? romance?

2. Black and white photography, the Oklahoma territory settings? Action?. Musical score?

3. Title, the voiceover explanation? The expansion of the west, Texas and Oklahoma, Badman's Territory? The town of Quinto as the haven for law breakers? The drive for respectability?

4. Mark Rowley and his brother John? Law and order in Texas? The James gang and robberies? The pursuit? The wounding of John? Mark going for his brother? The arrival in Quinto? Not being a sheriff? The attraction towards Henrietta? The Colonel? The James gang? George and his eccentricities? Confrontations? Henrietta and her campaign, the paper? The helping of John? His recovery? The romantic attraction to Henrietta, the proposal? The information about his being wanted? The race, Val Starr, Henrietta's jealousy? The Indians and their rites and the money? The plans for Oklahoma territory? Clash with Henrietta? The moving in of the administrator? Fights, confrontations, shootings? His friend’s death? The happy ending?

5. Quinto, the people with a past, including the doctor? Disorder, gamblers, shooters? Henrietta and her paper, being boarded up? The colonel and his role? The horse race, the deals with the Indians, the robberies? The vote for congress, the regulator coming in?

6. Henrietta, heroine, prim? The paper, her efforts? Her friendship with Meg and Meg's advice and criticism? Meeting mark, clashes with him, suspicions, the telegram? The ball, her announcement, the votes? Confrontation with Mark? The resolution?

7. The James gang, the Dalton gang? Robberies, taking refuge in Quinto? Shootouts? The pursuit of the law? The scheme for robbing the bets on the race? George and his
death?

8. The Colonel, his control over the town? The confrontations in the bar? The race? Hampton and his arrival, violence, deaths?

9. The background of the west, law and order, the changing west? Civilisation?

10. The Indians, being tricked with the money, Mark and his support of them?

11. The popular ingredients of the western, 40s style?