A film like DAKOTA is a good vehicle for Vera Ralston at this early stage of her motion picture career. It is one of her first major leading roles in an "A" budget production at Republic. Truthfully, she is still learning how to act and is still in the process of becoming fluent in English. Slightly amateur qualities make her endearing and especially sincere, since we are getting the real deal, not an actressy type performance. She is no Bette Davis, and that's kind of refreshing.
It makes sense that boss Herbert Yates would put her into a western where most of the drama depends on John Wayne to handle the big scenes. This is not to say that Ralston's role is unimportant-- she does have a scene where she gets shot-- but much of the action involves Wayne's character. He plays a gambler trying to make good in life, and she functions more or less as a support to him.
There are plenty of fistfights and chase sequences in the movie. One such chase occurs right off the bat, where our hero whisks his bride away from the Chicago estate of her railroad tycoon father (Hugo Haas). Papa takes off after them with his big guns, er goons, but the newlyweds manage to hurry off on a train bound for St. Paul. It's light-hearted and boisterous fun.
A running gag concerns Ralston thwarting Wayne's attempts to head to California. She has it in her mind that they should settle in Dakota territory. This is when he realizes they are headed to St. Paul and will travel on to Fargo. She found out her father and his men are expanding their line to Dakota; and with some money she took, she thinks they can buy up farmland and sell it to Papa's company for a tidy profit.
When they arrive in Fargo, they meet an assortment of colorful characters. There is danger when they cross paths with a ruthless swindler (Ward Bond) and his partner (Mike Mazurki). As depicted several times, Bond tries to outmaneuver them, but his efforts are in vain. Later, when he double crosses Mazurki, he gets what he deserves.
Before Bond is eliminated, there is a spectacular fire. Wayne and Ralston help a group of co-operative farmers survive the burning of their wheat fields. Things finally return to normal. But the Mrs. Has now bought into a riverboat, ensuring they can stay in the area to haul materials that will be used by the railroad to lay its new track.
Ona Munson is on hand as a dance hall singer with an eye on Wayne even though he's happily married. And since this is a Republic production, there's a bunch of studio contractees in supporting roles-- Robert Livingston, Grant Withers, George Cleveland, Eddy Waller and Roy Barcroft. We also have Walter Brennan as the riverboat captain.
John Wayne and Vera Ralston would reunite on screen for THE FIGHTING KENTUCKIAN a few years later. And Walter Brennan would work with both of them again on many other films, mostly westerns.
It makes sense that boss Herbert Yates would put her into a western where most of the drama depends on John Wayne to handle the big scenes. This is not to say that Ralston's role is unimportant-- she does have a scene where she gets shot-- but much of the action involves Wayne's character. He plays a gambler trying to make good in life, and she functions more or less as a support to him.
There are plenty of fistfights and chase sequences in the movie. One such chase occurs right off the bat, where our hero whisks his bride away from the Chicago estate of her railroad tycoon father (Hugo Haas). Papa takes off after them with his big guns, er goons, but the newlyweds manage to hurry off on a train bound for St. Paul. It's light-hearted and boisterous fun.
A running gag concerns Ralston thwarting Wayne's attempts to head to California. She has it in her mind that they should settle in Dakota territory. This is when he realizes they are headed to St. Paul and will travel on to Fargo. She found out her father and his men are expanding their line to Dakota; and with some money she took, she thinks they can buy up farmland and sell it to Papa's company for a tidy profit.
When they arrive in Fargo, they meet an assortment of colorful characters. There is danger when they cross paths with a ruthless swindler (Ward Bond) and his partner (Mike Mazurki). As depicted several times, Bond tries to outmaneuver them, but his efforts are in vain. Later, when he double crosses Mazurki, he gets what he deserves.
Before Bond is eliminated, there is a spectacular fire. Wayne and Ralston help a group of co-operative farmers survive the burning of their wheat fields. Things finally return to normal. But the Mrs. Has now bought into a riverboat, ensuring they can stay in the area to haul materials that will be used by the railroad to lay its new track.
Ona Munson is on hand as a dance hall singer with an eye on Wayne even though he's happily married. And since this is a Republic production, there's a bunch of studio contractees in supporting roles-- Robert Livingston, Grant Withers, George Cleveland, Eddy Waller and Roy Barcroft. We also have Walter Brennan as the riverboat captain.
John Wayne and Vera Ralston would reunite on screen for THE FIGHTING KENTUCKIAN a few years later. And Walter Brennan would work with both of them again on many other films, mostly westerns.