A Ticket to Tomahawk

While Blazing Saddles was one of the Western genres most successful comedies, A TICKET TO TOMAHAWK could have been a precursor to it. While the Mel Brooks blockbuster was stuffed with corny jokes, Tomahawk's humor was more subtle. And its writing therefore to me was more impressive, especially when you least expected it. When Dan Dailey kept shouting at his Indian chief friend, Crooked Knife, during an uprising, trying to identify himself, the Chief continued to shoot arrows at him. Character Madame Adelaide asks him--in the line of battle--"A friend of yours?" He replies, "Fair weather." This title tries to suck you in and use Marilyn Monroe's name value, but of course she had a very bit part. It had a fun cast, and besides the action and comedy, the bonus was the gorgeous Colorado scenery. I'd watch it again for all of that.

This movie came out four months after "Annie Get Your Gun" with Betty Hutton. Anne Baxter plays a female sharpshooter role quite similar Annie. It suggests that if Betty Hutton had not been available, Anne Baxter would have been an excellent second choice for Annie. While the movie isn't quite as good as Annie, it is a totally entertaining piece shot in gorgeous Technicolor. If 1950 hadn't been a year filled with great movies like "Sunset Boulevard," All About Eve" (with two terrific performances by Ms. Baxter and Betty Davis), "Samson and Delilah," and the aforementioned "Annie Get Your Gun," it is possible that this one would have picked up at least a few nominations.

Dan Dailey has never been better. He is totally relaxed and charming in his role as a salesman of "mustache cups," and subscriptions to the Saturday Evening Post. Anne Baxter plays her Annie type character with surprising ease and coolness. She seems totally natural when she takes the badge and town sheriff role from her wounded grandfather (wonderfully played by character actor Will Wright who appeared on over 60 television shows in the 1950s and early 60s).

Rory Calhoun looks much younger and far handsomer than he was starring in "The Texan" a decade later. This was the first of three movies he was in with Marilyn Monroe. This is Marilyn's debut film, unfortunately she's only in it for about five minute. It is also Western star Jack Elam's debut. Look quick, he's in it for less than minute. You can also catch Victor Sen Yung (Hop Sing on the 1960's Western "Bonanza"). Walter Brennan also has two or three nice small scenes.

If you're a "Maverick" television fan, this is a must see. While not the first comedy Western, this movie is probably closer to "Maverick" in tone and style than any other movie. Its even closer than James Stewart's "Destry Rides Again."

Dailey and Baxter giving great performances is the reason to watch, but the Technicolor, beautiful Colorado scenery, and bit parts by future stars is a lot of icing on this sweet little cake of a movie.

In 1876, the Tomahawk & Western Railroad will put the stagecoach business out of business IF it gets a passenger from Epitaph to Tomahawk, Colorado by noon on a specified day. A pistol-packin' Ann Baxter protects the trip with Dan Dailey as the unwilling passenger. Victor Sen Yung (later Hop Sing on Bonanza runs the Long Time Laundry. Worth watching if only to catch a glimpse of Jack Elam as Fargo and Marilyn Monroe as one of the dancing bar girls (neither is credited).

This western, directed by a non western film maker, a director whose it is the only western, is not bad t all, and far better than its reputation of being a supposed comedy western flick. It is full of charm but of course it is not a gritty story, not the kind of western that, for instance, Henry Hathaway, Joseph Newman or Nathan Juran would have given us. It is full of action, with a beauticul color and it is not too long. I watched it long ago and still thought it was a Richard Bare's film, and not Richard Sale.... I have always confounded both directors names, that's why. But no, it's a true western, even better than a Disney Production stuff.

A railroad owner and a frontier salesman who are anxious to arrive, by rail, at the town of Tomahawk are escorted by the deputized granddaughter of the recently wounded town marshal and her chaperon, to see that the railroad reaches its destination by the prescribed time or the contract is forfeited to the Stage Line, whose owner will do anything to stop them.

The only problems are: Kit Dodge Jr.(Anne Baxter) believes that "Johnny Behind the Deuces" (Dan Dailey) was involved with her Grampa's shooting and besides he's a "drummer" and everyone knows that tall, handsome and suave salesmen are not to be trusted. Johnny, however, is the only "paying" passenger on the train and she must protect him although her trigger finger is prepared for his first wrong move. Not being aware of her feminine side holds some hilarious moments as Grampa makes his best tactful effort (words not to be missed ) at a quick version of "the birds and the bees". While she doesn't quite understand, her chaperon, Pawnee (Chief Yowlachie), does and a large Indian with his own tomahawk is the perfect deterrent.

This train ride should be an easy ride for about 40 miles, but the tracks run out a few miles out of town, so they must carry the engine, cars and passenger over a mountain and fight off the stage line's efforts to stop. Soon they meet up with the tracks that run to Tomahawk. Along for the ride is a group of entertainers including Connie Gilchrist and a young Marilyn Monroe. Also in the cast are Walter Brennan as the train's engineer and Rory Calhoun.

This is a fun movie for anyone with a ticket to Tomahawk!