Tracker Pixel for Entry

​Fictionalized Civil War drama is entertaining feminist western

Cinema | April 1st, 2015

Next week is the 150th anniversary of the end of the American Civil War. For over a century, numerous films have treated various dramatic aspects of the subject, some of the more famous ranging from “The Birth of a Nation,” “Gone With the Wind,” “The Red Badge of Courage,” “Glory,” “Gettysburg” and the recent “Lincoln.” Several have also fictionalized to various degrees the exploits of notorious Confederate guerilla William Quantrill and his raiders. One of the most obscure films, “Woman They Almost Lynched” (1953), made at the low-budget Republic Pictures, is also one of the best. Amazingly, it came out on Blu-ray earlier this year.

The title may sort of give away the ending, the disc’s hokey box cover art looks like an exploitation film, and misleading original advertising copy makes it seem like Audrey Totter’s character Kate Quantrill is pretty much the whole show, even though she’s third-billed under male leads John Lund and Brian Donlevy, and the central character is actually played by fourth-billed Joan Leslie.

Nevertheless, this obscure western is a forgotten gem that has been unjustly neglected for over 60 years. Veteran Alan Dwan’s skillful direction and prolific writer Steve Fisher’s script focus on both action and characterization, with a number of unexpected variations on the standard western genre, especially considering its date and its studio.

The basic plot sounds on the surface like it will have a familiar, routine formula. The setting is at the end of the Civil War in a small but violently neutral Missouri/Arkansas border town. A mine owned by the town’s mayor is supplying lead to both the Union and Confederate armies, with the renegade Quantrill’s Raiders forcing their way in to replenish their own lead supplies. The film opens with the arrival of an innocent young sister from up north, unaware her brother has become a hardened and hard-drinking saloon owner whose singer girlfriend had been kidnapped and then married by Quantrill. The Quantrill gang includes such other notable historic characters as brothers Frank and Jesse James and Cole and Jim Younger.

It soon becomes apparent, however, that Charles Quantrill (Brian Donlevy) and Jesse James (Ben Cooper) are secondary characters, with Frank James and Cole Younger relatively minor (though the latter does become a brief threat to our heroine). Bar owner Bill Maris (played by veteran Republic actor Reed Hadley) gets killed off in the first ten minutes! The film’s primary conflict is between Sally Maris (Joan Leslie), who suddenly inherits her brother’s saloon, and Kate Quantrill (Audrey Totter), Quantrill’s wild and embittered wife. It is her taunting and mocking that leads to the shooting death of Sally’s brother at the hands of mine foreman Lance Horton (John Lund).

Horton eventually becomes a major supporting character as the film’s romantic interest, among other things. The mine-owning mayor, meanwhile, is a tough and intimidating woman, Delilah Courtney (stage star Nina Varela), whose ruthless word is law in the town. She is also at odds with Sally’s plans for the saloon. The saloon girls (including notable actresses Anne Savage and Virginia Christine) rally around Sally, however, who proves to be much tougher (and a better shot) than anyone anticipated.

What we quickly wind up with is a heavily feminist western unusual for its era. Events build up to a knock-down drag-out barroom brawl between Leslie and Totter. Then a bit later there’s a critical gunfight showdown between them out in the street. There are distinct similarities to Nicholas Ray’s cult classic “Johnny Guitar,” which would come out the following year, also from Republic. But “Woman They Almost Lynched” does not have the pervasive, over-the-top campiness provided by Joan Crawford, Mercedes McCambridge and the rest of that film’s cast, and it lacks the heavy-handed topical political metaphors of “Johnny Guitar.”

Although the brawl and gunfight are key climactic moments, several additional developments and plot twists remain in store, as things eventually lead to the main climax implied by the film’s title and a semi-surprise resolution. “Woman They Almost Lynched” may be just a Republic B-western, but it is an action-packed and highly entertaining melodrama.

Joan Leslie has one of her meatiest roles, and she should have received top billing. Audrey Totter, better-known for her numerous film noir femme fatales, plays it mean in her best style, yet she gets to show a vulnerable side as well and even sings a couple of pleasant, if anachronistic bluesy songs (“All My Life” and “How Strange”).

The film's only fault is some tedious exposition, presented through a couple of pretty heavy-handed “here’s-what-the-audience-needs-to-know” dialogue scenes toward the beginning and, again, toward the end. Overall it’s a surprisingly effective and unpredictable genre picture that deserves to be much better known.

The Blu-ray from Olive Films looks extremely good and film-like. Other than some grainy stock footage during the opening sequence and occasional soft-looking shots, it has a crisp HD scan with fine contrast range. Audio is also quite good. Unfortunately, as usual for Olive, there are no bonus features other than a main and chapter menu.

“WOMAN THEY ALMOST LYNCHED” on Blu-ray – Movie: B+ / Video: A / Audio: A- / Extras: F

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee NelsonLocal groups will speak out against current and projected federal budget cuts in downtown Fargo this Saturday, April 26. The Red River Valley chapters of Fearless and Indivisible will lead a protest from…

By Prairie Rose Seminolems.prairierose@gmail.com I was a child who walked behind my parents into classrooms and kitchens, spaces of song and prayer, where teachings lived in the air and settled on my shoulders. I didn’t yet have…

Saturday, April 26, 1:30-3:30 p.m.Rourke Art Gallery + Museum, 521 Main Ave., MoorheadThings are coming up rosy at the Rourke in a true feast of the senses during the third annual “Gallery in Bloom” exhibit. The pop-up…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com I feel like reading a newspaper is the equivalent of listening to music on vinyl. Not only is it analog, it’s an experience. I might be a little biased, but there's something about the rustling…

By Ed Raymondfargogadly@gmail.comThe wizards and kleagles in whites now wear blue suits and red tiesA hundred years ago, more than 30,000 members of the Ku Klux Klan from virtually every state in the Union wearing their white…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com After a very inspiring conversation with Kayla Houchin of Sonder Bakehouse a few weeks ago, I decided that it’s an appropriate time to write a column about some of the sweet people who are involved…

Mooncats and Pert Near Sandstone play Empire TheatreBy Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comThe MoonCats describe themselves as “Americonscious Campfire Folk.” They have a clear acoustic folk sound with a sense of whimsy — think…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.comRyan Coogler goes big and bold with “Sinners,” a sweaty, bloody vampire movie set in 1932. The filmmaker stuffs this universe with enough ideas to serve a limited-series season of episodic…

By Raul Gomez Modern Man was a gentle soul. If you were down or just wanted a friend, he’d be there for you. I remember the first day I met Modern Man. It was Jeremiah Fuglseth and me. He wanted to write about this legendary…

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comHigh Plains Reader had the opportunity to interview two mysterious new game show hosts named Milt and Bradley Barker about an upcoming event they will be putting on at Brewhalla. What…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

By Josette Ciceronunapologeticallyanxiousme@gmail.com What does it mean to truly live in a community —or should I say, among community? It’s a question I have been wrestling with since I moved to Fargo-Moorhead in February 2022.…

By Alicia Underlee NelsonProtests against President Trump’s policies and the cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are planned across North Dakota and western Minnesota Friday, April 4 and…

By Faye Seidlerfayeseidler@gmail.com In 2023, the Superintendent of Fargo Public Schools, Rupak Ghandi, gave a passionate plea to the Fargo School Board to follow federal law, because a recently passed state law would increase…