Masterson of Kansas

Once more, I had to endure a Sam Katzman's production, this time a western, supposed to tell the story of Bat Masterson, a conquest of the West figure, authentic character, who would have deserved better than being evoked by this awful Sam Katzman producer. William Castle, the future horror gimmick films genius, could not do anything against this plague named Katzman who condemned him to mediocrity in the studio; such a talented, gifted director. It is a good time waster though, but you have to keep out of your head the idea that such a plot would have been ten times better, produced by an Harry Joe Brown or Howard Christie. Well, we have to deal with it, we have no choice.

I've admired James Griffith as a shady character actor for some years but he shines in this little B western. He appeared in around 200 film & TV shows but this is the best I've seen him. He plays Doc Holliday, friend of Wyatt Earp, but this time he's mainly squaring up to Bat Masterson, played by George Montgomery. William Castle directs and Nancy Gates is the romantic interest. The plot is formular for this period in Hollywood -1954- famous lawman meets famous gunslinger meets pretty girl. Bad guys try to act menacing but fail miserable. George Montgomery plays George Montgomery again and in wide screen which is nice. Some poor acting from supporting cast and weak script lines keep this from ever becoming a good western. OK for 10 year old children though.

Bat Masterson (George Montgomery) is a gunslinger. Masterson, Wyatt Earp (Bruce Cowling) and Doc Holliday (James Griffith) work together to protect an impending land exchange between honest rancher Merrick (John Maxwell) and peace-seeking Indian chief Yellow Hawk (Jay Silverheels) against the crooked chicanery of land baron Clay Bennett (David Bruce). Nancy Gates ( Comanche station) is the daughter of Merrick, who is sentenced to hang, but believes him innocent ...

A fairly good shoot-em up, which does what it says on its tin and offers good entertainment. James Griffith as Doc Holliday is a scene stealer, and gives this nifty B-programmer some gravitas, and Montgomery is his usual likeable and stalwart self as Bat Masterson.

Even though the title is Masterson of Kansas, It's James Griffiths' Doc Holiday who's the most interesting character. His quiet, cultured manner radiates more deadliness than the generic Western manner of Montgomery's Masterson. Griffith was a good character actor who was worthy of better movies.

The problem with the Masterson of this movie is that the real Masterson was a bit of a dandy (more like Gene Barry's TV version) whereas here he's no different than Wyatt Earp.

Of the three 'good guys' Holiday, Masterson and Earp, Holdiay seems the most intelligent. Masterson knowingly takes on about 8 bad guys who are waiting for him and almost gets killed but for Holiday's intervention. Earp's attempt to face down a lynch mob lasts about 5 seconds when he gets knocked unconscious by a well thrown rock. That would never have happened to Burt Lancaster! Unfortunately for the viewer, the bad guys are not menacing enough and waste time with elaborate plotting. Makes you long for Lee Marvin or Leo Gordon.

Brings together Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Doc Holliday in an ol western... the usual cowboys and Indians. Stars George Montgomery, James Griffith, and Bruce Cowling. In Dodge City, it's the cattlemen against Merrick, the man helping the native americans, and Masterson is determined to bring justice if he can. kind of ironic that part of it is filmed in Griffith Park, but doesn't seem to be connected to James Griffith. it's the usual western shenanigans. pretty good... very linear story-line. nothing too new here. Directed by William Castle; he had started in westerns... ended up as the horror movie king in the 1950s and 1960s. Castle also directed House on Haunted Hill ( and lesser known The Tingler !) with Vincent Price.