Lack of good storyline.

i know i wasted 90 mins of my life.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

One of several epic film stories about oil wildcatting released in the 1940s. I'm familiar with 3: the prior "Boomtown" and "Flowing Gold". and the later Tulsa". Each of these sports a gusher or two, and all except this one feature a spectacular oil field fire. While gushers provide dramatic evidence of a strike under high pressure, they aren't really what you want. They waste oil and contaminate the surrounding area, increase the risk of a fire, and , if offshore, will contaminate the marine environment.The alternative title of "War of the Wildcats" correctly suggests competition to be king of the regional oil exploration and production businesses. Albert Dekker plays Jim Gardner: the established kingpin of the oil exploration business in Oklahoma, and an obvious candidate to be the chief villain in a fight with a consortium of small oil producers, farmers and Aboriginal Americans for a share of the riches. John Wayne, as Dan Somers, although lacking experience in oil exploration, is elected leader of the consortium. This turns out to be a fortuitous choice when the two go to Washington to plead their case before the president(T.R.). Although Gardner, with his vast experience and material advantages, might seem the overwhelming choice, Dan fought with the rough riders in Cuba, and T.R. remembers him. Also, Dan offers the Aboriginal Americans a 50% stake in the profits vs. Gardner's 12 1/2 %. T.R. wants to make sure the Aboriginal Americans get their fair share, thus decides in favor of the consortium. However, if they fail to deliver a given quantity of oil after 4 months, the concession will be transferred to Gardner, thus providing him with the incentive to impede their ability to deliver in time. Toward this end, Gardner buys the oil pipeline from this region to the Tulsa refinery, thus forcing the consortium to transport their oil in wooden tanker wagons and makeshift containers in wagons(Where did they all of a sudden get all of these wagons?).In addition, the Cherokee Kid, who sometimes works for Gardner, has his independent reason to want to sabotage the consortium's efforts.As you might expect, a woman is also involved in the competition for oil rights. Martha Scott plays a schoolteacher and novelist from the east , who wants some experience living in the west. At first, she brushes off romantic overtures from the two men. But, eventually she is caught in a passionate kiss with Gardner out in the moonlight in a wilderness area. But, she then sharply changes her attitude, gets out of the buggy, and walks along the road until Wayne, in his buggy, picks her up. Seems something Gardner said led her to believe that his intention was for her to become his mistress, rather than wife, upsetting her.Gardner's men try to sabotage the oil wagons by creating a sizable blaze out along the road. But, most of the wagons get through unscathed. Also, a pair of Gardner's men tinkered with some of the wagons, making them unhitch during their travels, wrecking quite a few. That mad dash to the refinery was the action highlight of the film.Dale Evans leads a troupe of singer/dancers in a stage show in the saloon. Best remembered for her inclusion in the later TV series: The Roy Rogers Show, in her early career, she was mostly a singer. John Wayne fans will want to see this superior Republic offering, featuring a rather young Wayne. Dekker provides a rather appealing villain, in most respects, except toward the end.

John Wayne & Albert Dekker compete for oil rights on Indian territory, and for the attention of Martha Scott in this Republic Pictures film shot out of Utah, USA.An interesting Western of sorts due to its characters and its more modern setting, with Wayne & Dekker playing the old and new factions of the West. It's based on a story by Thomson Burtis who co-writes the script along with Eleanore Griffin and Ethel Hill. Albert Rogell directs in the workmanlike way that befits his career. A pretty mundane story is in truth saved by its final third, where thankfully the action picks up and we are treated to something resembling a pulse. The light hearted approach to the romantic strand doesn't sit quite right, and a glorious fist fight between the two protagonists is ruined by Rogell being unable to disguise the stunt men doing the work. But hey, stunt men deserve their moment of glory always. Solid support comes from George 'Gabby' Hayes and Wayne as usual has much screen charisma, particularly when rattling off his pistol. But in spite of its better than usual Republic budget, it remains a film of interest only to 1940s Wayne enthusiasts. 4/10

A lesser entry in the John Wayne canon, but not without interest. I thought Duke did quite well with the light comedy in the first part of the film before getting tough later on. And he looks as good as he ever did.I liked the opening scene as the camera panned along the train interior catching the comments of the passengers - including, I'm sure, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams who had a few words to say, though the film doesn't appear in his filmography on this site or in Quinlan.Albert Dekker is quite a likable villain, and, for the era in which the film was made, it's quite clear what his intentions are towards Martha Scott; the innuendo is strong, and in the hotel she even looks into the room adjoining hers and gasps when she spots the bed where he wants her to end up.I'm a bit dubious about the total oil capacity of the various wagons at the end of the film and how easily some of the explosions occurred, but the sequence is quite a novel one. And the period - very early 20th century - is an interesting one, with the film making several allusions to the new life-style that will be made possible by oil.Apparently Rhonda Fleming is in the chorus line in her very first film, and Gabby Hayes isn't too annoying in his customary old coot/sidekick role.

A good example of the old style Slam-Bang western movie. The race to the refinery is one of the most exciting movie endings ever. Wayne is great as he once again gives charisma to an ordinary western hero. Martha Scott is cute here but not "cutesy". Scott is sort of "Diva" cute in this movie and holds her own against the awesome Wayne. Albert Dekker is also on hand to deliver some good acting as an oily villain who is in the oil business. The trip west on the train in this movie successfully evokes a sense of adventure that you once could experience traveling far west in the USA. Probably ended when the legendary Route 66 automobile road was deactivated.Must reluctantly rate this "7" because unfortunately Old Slam-Bang also nowadays means dated. However, it is still a watchable, fun movie.