“Dodge City” (Movie review-4/8/39)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, McHenry Library, U.C. Santa Cruz | 4/8/39 | Frank S. Nugent

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Horse opera ping.

[Rummyfan]

One of Flynn’s best.....

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Interesting to see three German movies, made under the control of Joseph Goebbels, and at least one of them a glorification of the Nazi military all playing at the same time this close to the outbreak of WWII.

It is also interesting for a glimpse of the sort of entertainment available at the time. Two different updated versions of The Mikado, Raymond Massey;a great performance as Abe Lincoln, (later) Dame Judith Anderson, the wildly successful slapstick review Hellzapoppin which was still playing years later. Also the now forgotten lawsuit against Walt Disney for supposedly stealing the idea for Fantasia is discussed. A very different world.

[aft_lizard]

Here is a picture of it's movie premier in Dodge City, Kansas:

The current Dodge City Roundup Rodeo and yearly celebration called Dodge City Days had it's early beginnings because of the premier as a way to entertain visitors, a few years later both the rodeo and Dodge City Days became a yearly staple still celebrated today.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Here is a picture of it's movie premier in Dodge City, Kansas

That was a special early premier a week ago - April 1, 1939. The New York premier was today - the same day this review ran.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Two different updated versions of The Mikado

A "Swing" version and a "Hot" version, with Bill Robinson.

Also two versions of Awake and Sing, by Clifford Odets. Other important names represented: George Bernard Shaw (Androcles and the Lion), Cole Porter (Leave it to Me!, with Sophie Tucker)

[aft_lizard]

I realize that but I figured that some posters would like to see some more history on the film and it’s namesake.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

That was some turn out. The street is jammed and every window and roof top is filled. Is all that to catch a glimpse of Errol Flynn?

[Homer_J_Simpson]

This release is about 11 months after another Technicolor extravaganza with Errol Flynn and sidekick Alan Hale. Come to think of it, it is about the same story in different settings.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Story, schmory. This was Errol Flynn!!

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Heck that crowd looks like Lindbergh in Paris, except for all the Stetsons.

[aft_lizard]

I think it was just the overwhelming publicity that came with the premier that was held there. Plus how often does a dusty town isolated in western Kansas get a major motion picture premier in it’s little city?

Here is a letter to time I just found that is kind of funny:

Sirs:

In the last issue of your magazine in that part dealing with the premiere of Gone With the Wind at Atlanta, Ga. recently you report the mayor of Atlanta as cautioning the people of the city not to tear the clothing off of the movie stars as was done at the premiere of Dodge City. A letter has been dispatched to the mayor requesting him to prove his statement or publicly retract and apologize; in other words, “to put up or shut up.”

Since reading that extraordinary disclosure this organization has made inquiries of newspapermen, business men, and others associated with the premiere here last spring, and not a single person can recall a single incident of the sort reported by the Mayor. Of course, the stars may have been pushed around some. . . .

This great city needs no defending. . . .

JAMES A. WILLIAMS The Dodge City Junior Chamber of Commerce Dodge City, Kansas
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,772301,00.html

[aft_lizard]

Here is another link that tells how the premiere got held there, the turnout and other stuff.

http://www.reeldiaries.com/moviehouse/articles/dodgecity.htm

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Thanks for the back story. Warner Bros had no shame when it came to generating publicity. Kind of like now.

All: I recommend the link aft_lizard provided at #13. In addition to the letter quoted there is a good one regarding Joachim von Ribbentrop and his days as a liquor salesman. Before he learned that Jews were a threat to his way of life.

[aft_lizard]

If you read the link at post number 14 the funny thing about the stetson and boots and facial hair was that the Mayor had to ask all men of able age to grow beards and to dress western as Dodge City had pretty much ‘urbanized’(relative to the fact it’s a small town) by that time and the rest of the people who lived nearby were farmers who don’t necessarily dress like cowboys.