Abilene Town (1946)

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Randolph Scott was an amazing guy. His Westerns, though relatively modest in budget, were some of the very best and most consistent ever made. For the life of me, I can't think of another actor who made so many exceptional films in this genre and whenever I know a Scott film is coming on television, I try to see it. They are the essence of classy and intelligent entertainment. With this in mind, though, I was disappointed by ABILENE TOWN. Now this isn't to say that it was a bad Western--heck, it was a bit better than average. But for a Randolph Scott film that means it's sub-par.The biggest problem with the film is that the film begins with Scott playing a very wimpy and relatively ineffective sheriff, Dan Mitchell. It isn't that he's a wimp, but he's 100% bought and paid for by men who only want him to keep order--not enforce the law unless it is absolutely unavoidable. This is because many of the hell-raisers who come to this town are cattlemen and the business owners want their business--at almost any cost. This is a very wussy sort of role for Scott, though it's not nearly as unlikable (but funny) as the role played by Edgar Buchanan, who is the Marshall of the territory. Buchanan is the laziest and least effective lawman I have ever seen in a Western. Unlike Scott, who generally is passive when the businessmen demand it, Buchanan is a coward through and through.Another problem for Scott's character is the nasty singer in the local bar. She seems like a real.., well IMDb won't let me use words like this, but she's just horrid. Whenever Scott is about, she kicks him hard in the shins and voices her contempt for the law. He never arrests her and I guess this supposed to be funny...which it isn't. What's worse is that although a nice lady in town loves Scott (and he's quite a hottie as well), by the end of the film Scott and this surly "lady" are together! This is just stupid and makes Scott seem even more wussified.Fortunately, the plot, though familiar, is pretty good and is a pretty typical battle between cattle men and farmers. Look for Lloyd Bridges are a particularly scrappy farmer.

A minor western classic, detailing the conflict between cattle men and homesteaders in Abilene, Kansas, in the 1870s, Abilene Town has much to commend it, not the least of which is the superb black-and-white cinematography by Archie J. Stout. One of the chief beneficiaries of Stout's fine work is Ann Dvorak, who has never looked more attractive than she does here. Her singing is a treat too, as she renders three or four saucy songs with admirable vitality, backed up by Sammy Lee's chorus girls.Scott is more than his usual competent self. In fact he gives one of the best performances of his career. Forced to straddle both sides of the fence, the marshal's sympathies are clearly with the raucous cowboys rather than the calculating merchants or the scruffy homesteaders. The interesting thing is that the script obviously favors the "good" people, but Scott brilliantly plays against the screenplay, his carefully controlled poker face revealing to the audience with just an occasional fleeting expression, a glance, a gesture, which side he favors in his heart, and his inner conflict that forces him to fight on the side that he knows will survive. Scott's adversaries on the "wrong" side of the street are forcefully played by Richard Hale, Jack Lambert and Dick Curtis. On the right side, he has to contend with Howard Freeman, Rhonda Fleming and Lloyd Bridges. Finally, he is forced to watch "his" Abilene self-destruct. "This is how a tough town dies—not with a roar, but with a whine."

1st watched 10/20/2000 - 5 out of 10 (Dir-Edwin L. Mitrin): Flat, typical western with unemotional Scott trying to play the hardcore part of marshall. Silly sheriff played by Edgar Buchanon is the best part.

Randolph Scott (1898-1987) plays the Marshall Dan Mitchell who tries to keep things peaceful in town.Edgar Buchanan (1903-1979) plays the sheriff Bravo Trimble who rather gambles than shoots. Lloyd Bridges (1913-1998) can be seen as Henry Dreiser.And sure there are also some pretty ladies involved.Abilene Town from 1946 is a nice old western with great actors.There are some brilliant scenes in the movie.I recommend Abilene Town for all of you who like old black and white western movies.Or if you just don't have anything better to do.