353:, Dan Mitchell, strives to keep the peace between those two groups as well as maintain the uneasy coexistence between Abilene's townspeople and the ranchers with their legion of cowboys. For years, the town had been literally divided, with the cattlemen and their supporters occupying one side of the main street and townspeople occupying the other side. Mitchell likes it this way; it makes things easier for him, and prevents dangerous confrontations from arising between the two factions. However, when homesteaders decide to lay stakes on the edge of town that existing balance is upset and leads to a deadly showdown.
756:
276:
262:
247:
229:
500:
For the first two-thirds of this film, it is a better-than-average western. Adapted from a novel by Ernest Haycox, "Abilene Town" has a capable cast. This story of the fight between the cattle men and the homesteaders has a good deal of authenticity as to detail. The saloons look like saloons. The
364:
than get involved in any real or potential unrest in
Abilene. Mitchell, however, does strive to prevent the upcoming confrontation while also dealing with a clash in his personal life, which is divided as well between Rita, a flashy showgirl who works on the cattle drovers' side of the street, and
488:
was more understated in its assessment of the film, characterizing it as a "fairly good
Western", although the trade journal did admire its "fast-moving" plot and Randolph Scott's steadfast performance, observing that he "plays the fearless marshal with conviction". Mae Tinee, the critic for the
348:
are moving into the West, trying to start new lives, and their increasing presence is clashing with the established commercial interests of cattlemen, who had settled in the region before the war. Abilene, a major cattle town, is on the brink of armed conflict between the cattlemen and the
31:
495:
in 1946, headlined her
January 24 review "'Abilene Town' Among Better Western Films". In that appraisal Tinee compliments the production's attention to detail but expresses disappointment with the latter portion of the film, especially with regard to its
501:
chorus girls are lumpy and not expensively costumed. They do the same show, featuring the same songs and musical numbers for a couple of nights running. Ann Dvorak dances in white high buttoned, high heeled shoes which actually look as tho [
507:] they might have been the height of fashion in 1870. The bad man looks really bad. The hero stops to rest, panting and sweating, after a rough and tumble fight with the villain...It is only in the last part of the picture that the
482:, another trade paper at the time, judged the production to be "a super-western" that succeeded "in capturing the hell-roaring spirit that marked the expansion of the United States westward". The reviewing service
511:
starts to flourish, and the ending is too sweet for words. There is plenty of shootin' and fightin' and a very realistic cattle stampede. The average
Western fan undoubtedly will be happy with "Abilene
687:
Historical
Newspapers, Ann Arbor, Michigan; database subscription access through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library. "Mae Tinee" was a
1300:
1280:
1270:
762:
794:
1275:
1265:
1290:
709:
628:
1260:
596:
840:
606:
824:
1295:
968:
880:
422:
1285:
787:
572:
1192:
976:
952:
660:
356:
The leader of the homesteaders is Henry
Dreiser, a reasonable young man with common sense. The county
1152:
1088:
508:
944:
936:
1184:
848:
832:
780:
1056:
864:
644:
468:
in 1946. In its
January 9 review that year, the widely read New York-based entertainment paper
1136:
1080:
484:
345:
1200:
1176:
1160:
1144:
577:
122:
365:
Sherry, the modest, churchgoing daughter of a shopkeeper on the other side of the street.
8:
1255:
912:
888:
755:
525:
635:(New York, N.Y.), January 9, 1946, pp. 79, 82. Internet Archive. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
1096:
1000:
928:
920:
470:
361:
695:, by both female and male reviewers. The name itself is a play on words for "matinee."
1232:
1224:
1208:
1064:
1032:
1024:
904:
740:
602:
465:
651:(New York, N.Y.), January 11, 1946, p. 16. Internet Archive. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
1216:
1016:
896:
772:
767:
582:
132:
1072:
1040:
960:
872:
856:
751:
548:
491:
329:
289:
745:
705:
1008:
984:
816:
804:
446:
440:
410:
392:
386:
374:
309:
305:
297:
293:
269:
250:
240:
232:
170:
136:
98:
94:
86:
66:
44:
1249:
1048:
992:
521:
452:
398:
317:
313:
265:
254:
102:
54:
1104:
533:
529:
416:
112:
1168:
1120:
552:
434:
428:
404:
76:
734:
275:
261:
246:
380:
301:
236:
90:
475:
228:
688:
684:
325:
144:
667:, January 5, 1946, p. 6. Internet Archive. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
1128:
357:
350:
679:
Tinee, Mae (1946). "'Abilene Town' Among Better
Western Films",
344:
is increasingly divided by opposing economic and social forces.
464:
The film received generally positive reviews in newspapers and
341:
30:
691:
used for many years by a succession of film critics for the
524:, whose career was temporarily derailed as a result of the
503:
598:
Western Movies: A Guide to 5,105 Feature Films, 2d ed
360:, "Bravo" Trimble, is a lawman who would rather play
802:
585:, San Francisco, California. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
661:"'Abilene Town' with Randolph Scott and Ann Dvorak"
478:" that is action-packed with a "tight screenplay".
474:called the production a "rip-snorting, spectacular
340:In the years following the Civil War, the state of
766:is available for free viewing and download at the
279:Lloyd Bridges (center) and Randolph Scott (right)
1247:
455:as card player with Sheriff Trimble (uncredited)
683:(Chicago, Illinois), January 24, 1946, p. 19.
788:
449:as homesteader (uncredited in screen debut)
795:
781:
754:
29:
581:(New York, N.Y.), January 9, 1946, p. 3.
274:
260:
245:
227:
1301:English-language Western (genre) films
1248:
324:, the production's plot is set in the
776:
675:
673:
594:
13:
712:from the original on July 13, 2010
670:
14:
1312:
728:
1281:Films scored by Gerard Carbonara
1271:Films directed by Edwin L. Marin
1276:American black-and-white films
1266:American Western (genre) films
698:
654:
638:
622:
588:
565:
1:
558:
539:
516:
1291:1940s English-language films
706:"Alpha Video - Abilene Town"
459:
7:
841:The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi
571:Livingston, Milton (1946).
528:, was the father of actors
349:homesteaders, and the town
10:
1317:
1261:1946 Western (genre) films
1193:Fighting Man of the Plains
595:Pitts, Michael R. (2012).
185:January 11, 1946
811:
573:"REVIEWS: 'Abilene Town'"
218:
210:
200:
176:
166:
150:
128:
118:
108:
82:
72:
62:
50:
40:
28:
23:
937:Married Before Breakfast
601:. McFarland. p. 3.
389:as Sheriff Bravo Trimble
328:, in the cattle town of
377:as Marshal Dan Mitchell
368:
335:
1057:A Gentleman After Dark
881:The Casino Murder Case
865:Affairs of a Gentleman
514:
280:
272:
258:
243:
1081:Two Tickets to London
498:
278:
264:
249:
231:
1296:1940s American films
1177:The Younger Brothers
578:Motion Picture Daily
193: (United States)
123:Richard V. Heermance
58:(novel "Trail Town")
1286:Films set in Kansas
288:is a 1946 American
161:Jules Levy Presents
1097:Tall in the Saddle
1001:Henry Goes Arizona
929:All American Chump
825:A Study in Scarlet
803:Films directed by
555:on July 27, 2010.
485:Harrison's Reports
466:trade publications
281:
273:
259:
257:and Edgar Buchanan
244:
1243:
1242:
1209:The Cariboo Trail
1065:Miss Annie Rooney
1033:Maisie Was a Lady
969:A Christmas Carol
945:Man of the People
665:Harrison's Report
292:film directed by
226:
225:
159:Guild Productions
35:Theatrical poster
1308:
1185:Canadian Pacific
1017:Gold Rush Maisie
913:I'd Give My Life
897:Moonlight Murder
797:
790:
783:
774:
773:
768:Internet Archive
758:
722:
721:
719:
717:
702:
696:
677:
668:
658:
652:
645:"'Abilene Town'"
642:
636:
626:
620:
619:
617:
615:
592:
586:
583:Internet Archive
569:
547:was released on
401:as Henry Dreiser
395:as Sherry Balder
192:
190:
133:Gerard Carbonara
33:
21:
20:
1316:
1315:
1311:
1310:
1309:
1307:
1306:
1305:
1246:
1245:
1244:
1239:
1073:Invisible Agent
1041:Ringside Maisie
961:Listen, Darling
873:Paris Interlude
857:The Crosby Case
807:
801:
752:Rotten Tomatoes
731:
726:
725:
715:
713:
704:
703:
699:
693:Chicago Tribune
681:Chicago Tribune
678:
671:
659:
655:
643:
639:
627:
623:
613:
611:
609:
593:
589:
570:
566:
561:
542:
519:
492:Chicago Tribune
462:
419:as Charlie Fair
371:
338:
330:Abilene, Kansas
318:Ernest Haycox's
316:. Adapted from
203:
196:
188:
186:
179:
162:
160:
155:
153:
143:
141:
139:
135:
101:
97:
93:
89:
57:
36:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1314:
1304:
1303:
1298:
1293:
1288:
1283:
1278:
1273:
1268:
1263:
1258:
1241:
1240:
1238:
1237:
1229:
1221:
1213:
1205:
1197:
1189:
1181:
1173:
1165:
1157:
1149:
1141:
1133:
1125:
1117:
1109:
1101:
1093:
1085:
1077:
1069:
1061:
1053:
1045:
1037:
1029:
1021:
1013:
1005:
997:
989:
985:Society Lawyer
981:
977:Fast and Loose
973:
965:
957:
953:Everybody Sing
949:
941:
933:
925:
917:
909:
901:
893:
885:
877:
869:
861:
853:
845:
837:
829:
821:
817:The Death Kiss
812:
809:
808:
805:Edwin L. Marin
800:
799:
792:
785:
777:
771:
770:
759:
743:
730:
729:External links
727:
724:
723:
697:
669:
653:
649:The Film Daily
637:
629:"Abilene Town"
621:
607:
587:
563:
562:
560:
557:
541:
538:
518:
515:
480:The Film Daily
461:
458:
457:
456:
450:
447:Chubby Johnson
444:
441:Hank Patterson
438:
432:
426:
425:as Jet Younger
420:
414:
411:Howard Freeman
408:
402:
396:
393:Rhonda Fleming
390:
387:Edgar Buchanan
384:
378:
375:Randolph Scott
370:
367:
337:
334:
310:Rhonda Fleming
306:Edgar Buchanan
298:Randolph Scott
294:Edwin L. Marin
270:Rhonda Fleming
251:Randolph Scott
241:Edgar Buchanan
233:Randolph Scott
224:
223:
220:
216:
215:
212:
208:
207:
204:
201:
198:
197:
195:
194:
182:
180:
177:
174:
173:
171:United Artists
168:
167:Distributed by
164:
163:
158:
156:
151:
148:
147:
142:James Mayfield
137:Albert Glasser
130:
126:
125:
120:
116:
115:
110:
109:Cinematography
106:
105:
99:Rhonda Fleming
95:Edgar Buchanan
87:Randolph Scott
84:
80:
79:
74:
70:
69:
67:Harold Shumate
64:
60:
59:
52:
48:
47:
45:Edwin L. Marin
42:
38:
37:
34:
26:
25:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1313:
1302:
1299:
1297:
1294:
1292:
1289:
1287:
1284:
1282:
1279:
1277:
1274:
1272:
1269:
1267:
1264:
1262:
1259:
1257:
1254:
1253:
1251:
1235:
1234:
1230:
1227:
1226:
1222:
1219:
1218:
1214:
1211:
1210:
1206:
1203:
1202:
1198:
1195:
1194:
1190:
1187:
1186:
1182:
1179:
1178:
1174:
1171:
1170:
1166:
1163:
1162:
1158:
1155:
1154:
1153:Christmas Eve
1150:
1147:
1146:
1142:
1139:
1138:
1134:
1131:
1130:
1126:
1123:
1122:
1118:
1115:
1114:
1110:
1107:
1106:
1102:
1099:
1098:
1094:
1091:
1090:
1089:Show Business
1086:
1083:
1082:
1078:
1075:
1074:
1070:
1067:
1066:
1062:
1059:
1058:
1054:
1051:
1050:
1049:Paris Calling
1046:
1043:
1042:
1038:
1035:
1034:
1030:
1027:
1026:
1022:
1019:
1018:
1014:
1011:
1010:
1006:
1003:
1002:
998:
995:
994:
990:
987:
986:
982:
979:
978:
974:
971:
970:
966:
963:
962:
958:
955:
954:
950:
947:
946:
942:
939:
938:
934:
931:
930:
926:
923:
922:
918:
915:
914:
910:
907:
906:
902:
899:
898:
894:
891:
890:
886:
883:
882:
878:
875:
874:
870:
867:
866:
862:
859:
858:
854:
851:
850:
846:
843:
842:
838:
835:
834:
830:
827:
826:
822:
819:
818:
814:
813:
810:
806:
798:
793:
791:
786:
784:
779:
778:
775:
769:
765:
764:
760:
757:
753:
749:
748:
744:
742:
738:
737:
733:
732:
711:
707:
701:
694:
690:
686:
682:
676:
674:
666:
662:
657:
650:
646:
641:
634:
630:
625:
614:September 13,
610:
608:9780786463725
604:
600:
599:
591:
584:
580:
579:
574:
568:
564:
556:
554:
550:
546:
537:
535:
531:
527:
523:
522:Lloyd Bridges
513:
510:
506:
505:
497:
494:
493:
487:
486:
481:
477:
473:
472:
467:
454:
453:Guy Wilkerson
451:
448:
445:
442:
439:
437:as Hannaberry
436:
433:
430:
427:
424:
421:
418:
415:
412:
409:
406:
403:
400:
399:Lloyd Bridges
397:
394:
391:
388:
385:
382:
379:
376:
373:
372:
366:
363:
359:
354:
352:
347:
343:
333:
331:
327:
323:
319:
315:
314:Lloyd Bridges
311:
307:
303:
299:
296:and starring
295:
291:
287:
286:
277:
271:
267:
266:Lloyd Bridges
263:
256:
255:Guy Wilkerson
252:
248:
242:
238:
234:
230:
221:
217:
214:United States
213:
209:
205:
199:
184:
183:
181:
175:
172:
169:
165:
157:
149:
146:
138:
134:
131:
127:
124:
121:
117:
114:
111:
107:
104:
103:Lloyd Bridges
100:
96:
92:
88:
85:
81:
78:
75:
71:
68:
65:
63:Screenplay by
61:
56:
55:Ernest Haycox
53:
49:
46:
43:
39:
32:
27:
22:
19:
1231:
1223:
1215:
1207:
1199:
1191:
1183:
1175:
1167:
1159:
1151:
1143:
1135:
1127:
1119:
1113:Abilene Town
1112:
1111:
1105:Johnny Angel
1103:
1095:
1087:
1079:
1071:
1063:
1055:
1047:
1039:
1031:
1023:
1015:
1007:
999:
991:
983:
975:
967:
959:
951:
943:
935:
927:
919:
911:
903:
895:
887:
879:
871:
863:
855:
847:
839:
831:
823:
815:
763:Abilene Town
761:
747:Abilene Town
746:
736:Abilene Town
735:
714:. Retrieved
700:
692:
680:
664:
656:
648:
640:
632:
624:
612:. Retrieved
597:
590:
576:
567:
545:Abilene Town
544:
543:
534:Jeff Bridges
530:Beau Bridges
520:
502:
499:
490:
483:
479:
469:
463:
443:as Doug Neil
431:as Cap Ryker
423:Jack Lambert
417:Richard Hale
413:as Ed Balder
407:as Big Annie
355:
346:Homesteaders
339:
321:
285:Abilene Town
284:
283:
282:
202:Running time
178:Release date
140:Charles Koff
113:Archie Stout
24:Abilene Town
18:
1169:Race Street
1121:Young Widow
921:Sworn Enemy
849:Bombay Mail
833:The Avenger
553:Alpha Video
435:Eddy Waller
429:Dick Curtis
405:Helen Boyce
320:1941 novel
77:Jules Levey
73:Produced by
41:Directed by
1256:1946 films
1250:Categories
1233:Fort Worth
1225:Raton Pass
1025:Hullabaloo
559:References
540:Home media
517:Production
381:Ann Dvorak
322:Trail Town
302:Ann Dvorak
237:Ann Dvorak
206:89 minutes
189:1946-01-11
152:Production
91:Ann Dvorak
51:Written by
1217:Sugarfoot
1137:Lady Luck
716:August 4,
526:blacklist
460:Reception
332:in 1870.
154:companies
119:Edited by
16:1946 film
1201:Colt .45
1161:Intrigue
1145:Nocturne
710:Archived
689:pen name
685:ProQuest
549:Region 0
326:Old West
219:Language
145:Max Terr
129:Music by
83:Starring
1129:Mr. Ace
1009:Florian
889:Pursuit
633:Variety
551:DVD by
496:ending:
471:Variety
383:as Rita
358:sheriff
351:marshal
290:Western
222:English
211:Country
187: (
1236:(1951)
1228:(1951)
1220:(1951)
1212:(1950)
1204:(1950)
1196:(1949)
1188:(1949)
1180:(1949)
1172:(1948)
1164:(1947)
1156:(1947)
1148:(1946)
1140:(1946)
1132:(1946)
1124:(1946)
1116:(1946)
1108:(1945)
1100:(1944)
1092:(1944)
1084:(1943)
1076:(1942)
1068:(1942)
1060:(1942)
1052:(1941)
1044:(1941)
1036:(1941)
1028:(1940)
1020:(1940)
1012:(1940)
1004:(1939)
996:(1939)
993:Maisie
988:(1939)
980:(1939)
972:(1938)
964:(1938)
956:(1938)
948:(1937)
940:(1937)
932:(1936)
924:(1936)
916:(1936)
908:(1936)
900:(1936)
892:(1935)
884:(1935)
876:(1934)
868:(1934)
860:(1934)
852:(1934)
844:(1933)
836:(1933)
828:(1933)
820:(1932)
605:
512:Town."
476:meller
342:Kansas
905:Speed
362:cards
741:IMDb
718:2010
616:2016
603:ISBN
532:and
509:corn
369:Cast
336:Plot
312:and
268:and
239:and
750:at
739:at
504:sic
1252::
708:.
672:^
663:,
647:,
631:,
575:,
536:.
308:,
304:,
300:,
253:,
235:,
796:e
789:t
782:v
720:.
618:.
191:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)