When the Daltons Rode
| When the Daltons Rode | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | George Marshall |
| Screenplay by | Harold Shumate |
| Based on | When the Daltons Rode by Emmett Dalton and Jack Jungmeyer |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Hal Mohr |
| Edited by | Edward Curtiss |
| Music by | Frank Skinner |
Production company | Universal Pictures |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 81 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
When the Daltons Rode is a 1940 American Western film directed by George Marshall and starring Randolph Scott, Kay Francis and Brian Donlevy. Based on the 1931 book of the same name by Emmett Dalton, a member of the Dalton Gang, and Jack Jungmeyer Sr., the film also includes a fictional family friend who tries to dissuade the Dalton brothers from becoming outlaws.
Plot
The Dalton brothers, law-abiding farmers, move to Kansas from Missouri to begin a new life. Bob Dalton meets lawyer Tod Jackson and persuades him to defend his kin Ben Dalton in a court case against a corrupt land-development company.
A melee erupts during the trial and the Daltons shoot their way out of the courtroom. Cronies of the land developers and the press portray the brothers negatively. Ben is shot in the back. Unable to live lawfully, the Daltons rob a stagecoach and their reputation as dangerous outlaws spreads.
Tod has fallen in love with Bob Dalton's fiancée Julie. He urges the Daltons to change their ways, but they defy him and pull one more bank job in Kansas. Bob and Grat are killed there, as are two other members of the gang, but Emmett survives.
Cast
- Randolph Scott as Tod Jackson
- Kay Francis as Julie King
- Brian Donlevy as Grat Dalton
- George Bancroft as Caleb Winters
- Broderick Crawford as Bob Dalton
- Stuart Erwin as Ben Dalton
- Andy Devine as Ozark Jones
- Frank Albertson as Emmett Dalton
- Mary Gordon as Ma Dalton
- Harvey Stephens as Rigby
- Edgar Dearing as Sheriff
- Quen Ramsey as Clem Wilson
- Dorothy Granger as Nancy
- Robert McKenzie as Photographer
- Fay McKenzie as Hannah
- Walter Soderling as Judge Lucius Thorndown (Judge Swain in the credits)
- Mary Ainslee as Minnie
- Erville Alderson as Dist. Atty. Wade
- Sally Payne as Annabella
- Edgar Buchanan as Old Timer (uncredited)
- June Wilkins as Suzy
Production
The film was based on Emmett Dalton's autobiography. Universal announced the project in March 1940 with filming to begin in May. Stuart Anthony and Lester Cole worked on the script.[1] The railroad scenes were filmed on the Sierra Railroad in Tuolumne County, California.[2]
References
- ^ SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Universal to Produce 'When the Daltons Rode'--'Girls' Best Friend' Is Purchased 'TOO MANY HUSBANDS' HERE 'Northwest Passage,' Screen Version of Kenneth Roberts Book, at Capitol Today Of Local Origin, New York Times, March 7, 1940: 27.
- ^ Jensen, Larry (2018). Hollywood's Railroads: Sierra Railroad. Vol. Two. Sequim, Washington: Cochetopa Press. p. 19. ISBN 9780692064726.
External links
- When the Daltons Rode at IMDb
- When the Daltons Rode at the TCM Movie Database
- When the Daltons Rode at AllMovie
 | This 1940s Western film–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |