The Woman of the Town

This B western was the product of Producer Harry "Pop" Sherman and Director George Archaimbaud, both who worked prodigiously on the Hopalong Cassidy series. Pop Sherman was trying to expand his horizons with this one.

Claire Trevor who played innumerable bad gals with hearts of gold reprises another one here. She's caught between two men lawman Bat Masterson and Cattleman King Kennedy played by Albert Dekker and Barry Sullivan respectively. Barry Sullivan is a thing of beauty, all decked out in his drugstore cowboy outfit. He was competent actor, but he must have felt like a fool in that outfit.

Albert Dekker played a lot of supporting roles opposite some of the biggest Hollywood names. He rarely was a lead, this and Dr. Cyclops two major exceptions. He's good in the title role. Masterson tells this story in flashback to a young actress playing aspiring reporter Louella Parsons. Didn't hurt in 1943 to give her a plug in any film.

Albert Dekker was one of the great tragedies in Hollywood. In 1968 he hung himself after completing his last role in The Wild Bunch. He hung himself and he was all decked out in woman's clothing. I've always felt that he was a transgendered person and back in 1968 those issues were NEVER discussed. I think Mr. Dekker wanted to go out as the real person he was, a woman in a man's body.

A great cast of supporting players rounds out this film, a lot of familiar faces you'll spot. Nice entertainment.