Dawn on the Great Divide (1942)

Written by CinemaSerf on June 26, 2022

Quite a busy little throwaway western most notable, for me, for the significant amount of outdoor action photography. The plot is a bit too complex - but basically revolves around a series of train robberies that lead to three US Marshals (Buck Jones, Rex Bell and Raymond Hatton) being detailed to escort the latest shipment of supplies and investigate the lethal shenanigans. Quite soon the men realise that the supposed Indian attacks are a blind, and that there are unscrupulous plans afoot led by Harry Woods. The three leads do have a bit of chemistry between them, and it's a well paced little auctioner - but there are too many distracting sub-plots, some blackmail and a baby to muddy the waters. I did quite enjoy the hour, but it needed a more focussed narrative.