A Ticket to Tomahawk (1950)

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

I noticed one reviewer gave this very standard western a 10. Well, I am not sure I saw what they did in the film, though it is, in my opinion, an agreeable film albeit filled with cliches and one incredibly dumb character.The film begins with some baddies deliberately halting a train out west. You learn later that some jerk-face is trying to prevent the trains from encroaching on stagecoach territory...a rather silly premise if you really think about it. Soon after this, some baddies attack the nearby sheriff and his rootin', tootin', butt-kicking daughter, Kit (Anne Baxter), immediately KNOWS that Johnny (Dan Dailey) is responsible...though HOW she came to this determination made no sense at all. And, through much of the film, she mistrusts him though there is no apparent logic to this. Can Johnny help Kit get the train through to the end of the line? Tune in and see...or not.As you noticed in my summary, I hated the character, Kit. She often seemed irrational and goofy...which is a shame as otherwise it's a decent film and Dailey has one of his better performances. A watchable time-passer in color...but otherwise a not particularly special film.

Tongue-in-cheek western that's better than it had any right to be. That's mainly because TCF went to the expense of filming in southwestern Colorado, arguably the state's most scenic part. Plus, the lead actors come through in vivid fashion—a charmingly affable Dan Dailey, a spunkily convincing Anne Baxter, and those two grand old grouches Walter Brennan and Will Wright. And shouldn't overlook Chief Yowlachie as the superbly deadpan Indian manikin. Then too, the story's just wacky enough to separate from the oater pack. Seems a new railroad has to get to Tomahawk to qualify for an exclusive contract. Trouble is this would cause the stage line to go belly-up, so guess who's sabotaging the rail line's effort. And that's along with hostile Indians and 40 miles of missing track. Good thing toughie Baxter's along with her gunslinging skills, along with a pack train of sturdy horses.I love dad Wright's effort at explaining the birds and the bees to his flummoxed daughter Baxter. Too often the actress over-emoted in her parts, but not here. She's near perfect as the thoroughly virginal tomboy, that is, until the winning Dailey teaches her how to "buss". I guess my only reservation is with the Indian attack. It's much too conventional for a movie like this, and should have been finessed in slightly humorous fashion. Looks like it might have been included as a concession to audiences expecting something more traditional. Anyway, catch Marilyn Monroe in the fluffy yellow outfit among the four dancers getting a brief musical number. Overall, the elements come together in generally delightful fashion, making the movie something of a minor sleeper, thanks mainly to TCF's handsome budgeting and an outstanding cast.

Not a great deal to write home about here, this is safe, at times bright, but instantly forgettable fare. The plot basically revolves around a group of honest do good folk trying to get the monopoly on the transport rights by getting their train to an appointed destination in Colorado on time. Naturally the bad guy stagecoach owner wants to stop them, thus no threat to his money maker you see, so the good folk led by Kit Dodge Jr (a sort of Virginal Calamity Jane) have to contend with his underhand tricks and of course the peril provided by Indian raids.Anne Baxter (Kit) is as cute as a button and most agreeable in the piece, the role is a sort of comedy version of her excellent serious role as Constance Mae 'Mike' in 1948s wonderful Yellow Sky. Joining Anne for this frothy train romp is Dan Dailey, Rory Calhoun and the always watchable Walter Brennan, whilst a mention has to be made that Marilyn Monroe appears in an uncredited role, see if you can spot her? Western purists will no doubt be lifted by the fact that Tonto himself (Chief Thundercloud) also appears, tho it has to be said that he looks rather bemused by it all. 5/10

A fun movie. Marilyn Monore had a bit part as a dance-hall girl. Colorado mountain colors were beautiful. Need more movies like this.