Randolph Scott was an amazing guy. His Westerns, though relatively modest in budget, were some of the very best and most consistent ever made. For the life of me, I can't think of another actor who made so many exceptional films in this genre and whenever I know a Scott film is coming on television, I try to see it. They are the essence of classy and intelligent entertainment. With this in mind, though, I was disappointed by ABILENE TOWN. Now this isn't to say that it was a bad Western--heck, it was a bit better than average. But for a Randolph Scott film that means it's sub-par.
The biggest problem with the film is that the film begins with Scott playing a very wimpy and relatively ineffective sheriff, Dan Mitchell. It isn't that he's a wimp, but he's 100% bought and paid for by men who only want him to keep order--not enforce the law unless it is absolutely unavoidable. This is because many of the hell-raisers who come to this town are cattlemen and the business owners want their business--at almost any cost. This is a very wussy sort of role for Scott, though it's not nearly as unlikable (but funny) as the role played by Edgar Buchanan, who is the Marshall of the territory. Buchanan is the laziest and least effective lawman I have ever seen in a Western. Unlike Scott, who generally is passive when the businessmen demand it, Buchanan is a coward through and through.
Another problem for Scott's character is the nasty singer in the local bar. She seems like a real.., well IMDb won't let me use words like this, but she's just horrid. Whenever Scott is about, she kicks him hard in the shins and voices her contempt for the law. He never arrests her and I guess this supposed to be funny...which it isn't. What's worse is that although a nice lady in town loves Scott (and he's quite a hottie as well), by the end of the film Scott and this surly "lady" are together! This is just stupid and makes Scott seem even more wussified.
Fortunately, the plot, though familiar, is pretty good and is a pretty typical battle between cattle men and farmers. Look for Lloyd Bridges are a particularly scrappy farmer.
The biggest problem with the film is that the film begins with Scott playing a very wimpy and relatively ineffective sheriff, Dan Mitchell. It isn't that he's a wimp, but he's 100% bought and paid for by men who only want him to keep order--not enforce the law unless it is absolutely unavoidable. This is because many of the hell-raisers who come to this town are cattlemen and the business owners want their business--at almost any cost. This is a very wussy sort of role for Scott, though it's not nearly as unlikable (but funny) as the role played by Edgar Buchanan, who is the Marshall of the territory. Buchanan is the laziest and least effective lawman I have ever seen in a Western. Unlike Scott, who generally is passive when the businessmen demand it, Buchanan is a coward through and through.
Another problem for Scott's character is the nasty singer in the local bar. She seems like a real.., well IMDb won't let me use words like this, but she's just horrid. Whenever Scott is about, she kicks him hard in the shins and voices her contempt for the law. He never arrests her and I guess this supposed to be funny...which it isn't. What's worse is that although a nice lady in town loves Scott (and he's quite a hottie as well), by the end of the film Scott and this surly "lady" are together! This is just stupid and makes Scott seem even more wussified.
Fortunately, the plot, though familiar, is pretty good and is a pretty typical battle between cattle men and farmers. Look for Lloyd Bridges are a particularly scrappy farmer.