In 1874, after noticing the total lawlessness in Wichita, Wyatt Earp reluctantly accepts the Marshal's job and runs into the worst local troublemakers.In 1874, after noticing the total lawlessness in Wichita, Wyatt Earp reluctantly accepts the Marshal's job and runs into the worst local troublemakers.In 1874, after noticing the total lawlessness in Wichita, Wyatt Earp reluctantly accepts the Marshal's job and runs into the worst local troublemakers.
- Awards
- 1 win
- Ben Thompson
- (as Robert Wilke)
- Bank Robber
- (uncredited)
- Saloon Madam
- (uncredited)
- Hal Clements
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaSam Peckinpah played a bit part as a bank teller.
- GoofsThey have Wyatt Earp meeting Bat Masterson in Wichita for the first time, and Bartholemew calls himself Bat when introducing himself. Bat started using his shortened name later in life and they met their first time in Dodge City Kansas not Wichita per Bat's own memoirs.
- Quotes
Ben Thompson: [examining Earp's revolver] That's a nice gun. Yeah,it wouldn't do for us Texans, though.
[comparing barrel lengths]
Ben Thompson: We like ours regulation size.
Clint Wallace: Yeah, don't ever get into an argument with a Texas man when you're carrying that thing. Must take you a half hour to clear leather with it.
Wyatt Earp: The only arguments I've had lately have been with buffalo, and they don't draw very fast, you know.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The First Texan (1956)
McCrea is perfect for the quietly resolute sheriff. As expected there's no swagger or bravado in his grim determination to keep other townspeople from being accidentally killed by busting-loose cowhands. When he stands alone, you believe it. It's also a well-stocked production from lowly Allied Artists, with enough extras to make the crowded town scenes credible. Of course, there's a romantic angle with a lovely but heavily made-up Vera Miles (soon to come under the wing of Hitchcock in such thrillers as The Wrong Man {1956} and Psycho {1960}). But the romance is pretty well integrated into the plot, without dangling like a distractive add-on.
All in all, it's a good western drama woven around the quietly powerful Joel McCrea.
- dougdoepke
- Dec 12, 2012
- How long is Wichita?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $2,400,000
- Runtime1 hour 21 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 2.55 : 1