classicsoncall Is it just me, or did anyone else have trouble following the convoluted relationship between Ned Britt (Randolph Scott) and Blair Lunsford (David Brian)? It didn't help when former Britt gal pal Amy Brooks (Helena Carter) showed up to throw a little gasoline on the fire at the Lunsford Ranch when she arrived for dinner with Britt. After that she wasn't even a factor in the story, so what gives with her showing up at all, other than to throw another monkey wrench into the works.As the story progresses, former gunslinger Britt intends to persuade his fellow citizens that the printing press is a thousand times more potent than gunpowder for settling disagreements and ridding the territory of thugs like the Clevenger (Ray Real) gang. I've seen Teal on both sides of the law in these old time Westerns, but it's still unusual to catch him in the role of a heel after all those Bonanza episodes in which he appeared as Sheriff Roy Coffee. It's akin to Paul Fix playing an outlaw before and after portraying Marshal Micah Torrance in the 'Rifleman' series.Even though Lunsford seems to be an on and off good guy/bad guy, it was still interesting to see him and Britt perform that gun flip distraction to the disadvantage of the Clevenger bunch. I don't think I'm buying that something like that could be pulled off for real, but it looked pretty cool in the execution. Seems like Lunsford pulled Britt's fat out of the fire more than enough times for Britt to come around.The topper for me was how quickly Miss Flora Talbot got over her romance with Lunsford when all was said and done. You would think there would have been a bit more angst over his demise, especially after she admitted shooting him, although that scene was cast in doubt with the appearance of Clevenger. Still and all, the new sheriff didn't waste any time making his mark in Fort Worth, finding just enough spare moments to welcome a new Toby on the way for Mrs. Britt to close out the story.

ma-cortes When the Lone Star Sate was split wide open , the Civil War veteran and former newspaper man called Ned Britt (Randolph Scott) linked it together with lead . As Ned returns back to Fort Worth after the war is over and finds himself fighting an old friend , Blair Lunsford (David Brian) , who's grown ambitious . The conflict between the two men roars across the Western plains and railway . With the numerous presence of homesteaders this town called Fort Worth prospered , stabilized and grew , its lawabiding citizens decide to hire a new sheriff , Ned Britt who is also a newspaper editor . Meanwhile , Britt is distracted by girl-next-door Flora Talbott (Phyllis Thaxter) and attractive Amy Brooks (Helena Carter).This exciting picture gets Western action , shootouts , thrills , a love story , and results to be quite entertaining . And the pace of action , tightly edited , never drops . The film is totally set in Fort Worth , Texas , which was one of the main railhead cattle towns till railway arrival . The movie has great scenarios , adequate production design and appropriate settings . However , three train scenes are taken directly from Dodge City (1939) , as the race with the horse-driven stagecoach along the tracks; the burning carriage and subsequent escape on horseback ; the triumphal arrival of the train in town, right at the end . Veteran Western star , Randolph Scott , once again proves that his roles are tough to double-cross or murder in this acceptable Western . Scott is supported by David Brian , he is ideally suited to the character of the suspicious friend who may or may not be on the side of Law and Order . Secondary cast is pretty good such as seductive Helena Carter , baddie Ray Teal , Michael Tolan , Walter Sande , Bob Steele and special mention for goodie as well as fatty Chubby Johnson as likable but coward sheriff . Thrilling and atmospheric musical score by David Buttolph . Glamorous and glimmer cinematography in Technicolor by Sidney Hickox . This bullet-a-minute Western about bandits attempting to hold up the progress of a railroad was directed in sure visual eye by Edwin L. Marin , at his final film . As he died two months before its release . He realized a variety films of all kind of genres , though especially Western , the best are starred by Scott , all well screen-written (as Abilene town , Canadian Pacific , Cariboo trail , Fighting man of the plains) . In fact his last films were Westerns until his early death at 52 . Rating : 6.5/10 , a nice feature horse-opera in every respect .

FightingWesterner Better than average script-writing, good production values and some nice twists helps Fort Worth rise above the usual B-western effort.The plot is somewhat reminiscent of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, though it precedes it by a decade!Randolph Scott, having hung up his guns following the Civil War, returns to his hometown of Fort Worth to start a newspaper. His first target is a group of murderous cowboys who killed a boy in a deliberate stampede. Soon he begins to suspect he's being manipulated by his old friend, a shifty businessman who would benefit greatly from the elimination of the cowpokes.David Brian gives a good performance as Scott's friend/nemesis and the film does a good job at keeping his character ambiguous right up till near the end.

herbqedi Fort Worth is fast-moving, well cast, well acted, and well executed all the way around. Scott actually has two different mentors, one Phyllis Thaxter's late father and the other a high-minded newspaperman who is knifed by a thug. He uses both of them to build and transition his character in a more layered performance than typical of the normally stoic Scott. Thaxter is terrific in every scene she's in, but better still is Brian as the magnate who persuades former boyhood friend Scott to stay in Fort Worth. He is part-villain and part-hero and extremely interesting and credible throughout. The plot is atypically complex with many threads all woven together well and wrapped up in a satisfying manner. Dick Moore (former child actor Dickie) is terrific as Scott's newspaperman who helps Scott keep alive the spirit of Ben, their mentor publisher. The thugs are all convincingly ruthless and interesting, including Ray Teal as the leader, supported by Bob Steele, Paul Picerni, and Michael TOlan among others. The color cinematography and production values are also first-rate and the pacing is perfect.If you enjoy Randolph Scott westerns, don't miss this superior entry.