I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

"Dodge City, Kansas - 1872. Longhorn cattle center of the world and wide-open Babylon of the American frontier - packed with settlers, thieves and gunmen"."Dodge City... rolling in wealth from the great Texas trail-herds... the town that knew no ethics but cash and killing".Enter trail boss Wade Hatton, cunningly disguised as a dashing Errol Flynn........Dodge City, an all action Western from start to finish, finds Errol Flynn {in his first Western outing} on tip top form. Based around the story of Wyatt Earp, Michael Curtiz's expensively assembled film charms as much today as it did to audiences back in 1939. All the genre staples are holding the piece together, dastardly villains, pretty gals, wagon train, cattle drive, iron horse, Civil War, shoot outs, fist fights and of course an heroic Sheriff. All neatly folded by the astute and impressive Curtiz. Aided by Sol Polito's fluid Technicolor enhanced photography, and Max Steiner's breezy score, Curtiz's set pieces shine as much as they enthral. A burning runaway train and the finest saloon brawl in cinema are the stand outs, but there are many other high points on which to hang the hat of praise.Very much a male dominated film, it's with the ladies that Dodge City fails to reach greater heights. Olivia de Havilland, who is always a feast for the eyes in Technicolor, disliked her role as Abbie Irving, and it's not hard to see why. There is not much for her to get her teeth into, it's a simple role that demands nothing other than saying the lines and to look pretty. Ann Sheridan as Ruby Gilman gets the more sparky role, but she sadly doesn't get that much screen time. Which is a shame because what little there is of Sheridan is really rather great.Those problems aside, it's with the guys that Dodge City is rightly remembered. Flynn attacks the role of Hatton with gusto and a glint in his eye. When he straps on the Sheriff badge for the first time it's akin to Clark Kent shredding his suit to become Superman. Yes it's that exciting. Bruce Cabot and Victor Jory are growly and great villains, while comedy relief comes in the fine form of side-kickers Alan Hale and Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams. Dodge City sets out to entertain, and entertain it does. In a year that saw other notable and lauded Westerns also released {Stagecoach, Jesse James and Destry Rides Again} give credit where credit is due, Dodge City deserves its place amongst those offerings. Most assuredly so as well. 8/10

As the newly founded Dodge City teems with violence and chaos, an Irishman reluctantly becomes Marshall and tries to tame the West in this standard but enjoyable and colorful Western. Flynn makes a dashing hero in his first Western, one of five films he made with de Havilland and Hale. Individually, he made nine films with de Havilland, 15 with Hale, and 12 with director Curtiz. de Havilland, looking lovely as always, plays the wholesome love interest. Sheridan is a saloon girl who warbles a song but is wasted in a small role. Cabot makes a slick villain while the supporting cast includes such familiar faces as Travers, Fowley, and Bond.

DODGE CITY was the first Errol Flynn Western, an attempt by Warner Bros to capitalise on renewed big studio interest in the genre (STAGECOACH was released in the same year)and to sell him in an action role where he wasn't swashbuckling the high seas. It's a decent film, and fans of Flynn and de Havilland should definitely check it out, yet it just feels flat.Perhaps Flynn, who really was a good actor (not just a "pretty boy")didn't yet feel comfortable in buckskin (he would do much better a couple of years later in THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON). Perhaps it is the Technicolour, which looks good, but seems to suck atmosphere out of this Western. Pastel pretty Technicolour tones did not seem to suit Westerns at this stage. I would also have liked to see de Havilland have more scenes. She is gorgeous and plays the plucky heroine very well, yet this great actress was getting stifled by these sorts of roles, even if she did share great chemistry with Flynn. Overall, it's not a bad film, just not a very interesting or different take on the Western.

I was really surprised that only 29 comments were posted for this movie. I rate it at 10, because all of the people in it were at their prime and beautiful....even the men. Backing-up the big stars, you'll see all the familiar faces that made the western movies so watchable. Ward Bond, et al, must have made as much money in residuals (they made SO MANY FILMS) as the headliners.Erroll Flynn gets the job as sheriff (Wade Hatton) and does a good job in his role. The film's color shows-off his manliness, his acting was good. Olivia de Haviland ("Abbie Irving") is pretty-much window-dressing, having little opportunity to display her talents. She, too, was beautiful. Of course, this is one of those films where the leading-man gets his girl.This is one of the early western films to be shot in Technicolor's, and was one of several TCM showed recently in their tribute to films starring Flynn and de Haviland. I guess younger watchers haven't seen this film....I didn't even know it existed.It's importance is that after this film Ms. de Haviland began to let it be known she was very unhappy with the roles the studio was giving her. EVEREYONE was campaigning to appear in "Gone with the Wind" that same year - Ms. de Haviland knew where to go - right up to the boss' wife. She got the role she wanted, "Melanie", and finally got the opportunity to show what a great actress she was.Director Michael Curtiz put scriptor Robert Buckner's story in an easy- to-follow movie - these early films are a joy to watch, simply because they have just this quality. I recommend for everyone.