A Ticket to Tomahawk | |
---|---|
Directed by | Richard Sale |
Produced by | Robert Bassler |
Written by |
Mary Loos Richard Sale |
Starring |
Dan Dailey Rory Calhoun Walter Brennan Anne Baxter Marilyn Monroe |
Music by | Cyril J. Mockridge |
Cinematography | Harry Jackson |
Edited by | Harmon Jones |
Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release date
|
1950 |
Running time
|
91 min |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $1.3 millon |
A Ticket to Tomahawk is a 1950 American western musical comedy film, released by 20th Century Fox, directed by Richard Sale and starring Dan Dailey and Anne Baxter.
In 1876, Johnny Jameson (Dan Dailey), a "drummer" (traveling salesman), is the only passenger on the inaugural run of the Tomahawk and Western Railroad's narrow gauge train through the Colorado Rockies. During the ride, the conductor tells Johnny that certain people, stagecoach operators for example, would like to see the railroad's franchise fail. Soon afterwards, Dakota (Rory Calhoun), Trancas and Gila, who work for Colonel Dawson, the area stageline operator, cause a giant boulder to fall directly in the path of the train. Engineer Terence Sweeny (Walter Brennan) manages to stop the train in time, and he and the crew then disembark to move the rock.
Johnny decides to walk to the town of Epitaph and hitches a ride with Trancas and Gila. At the sheriff's office, when Johnny tries to report the train's delay to deputy Chuckity Jones (Charles Kemper), he is knocked out by Trancas. U.S. Marshal Kit Dodge, meanwhile, is in the room next door getting ready to welcome the train with help from his tomboyish, knife-wielding granddaughter Kit (Anne Baxter). As they leave for the depot they are surprised by Trancas and Gila. The marshal shoots Trancas but is wounded by Gila. Johnny comes round and Kit suspects that he may also be one of the gang. Despite Chuckity intervening on his behalf she orders him to leave town before sunset.
Kit is deputized as a U.S. Marshal by her grandfather, who now cannot travel because of his wound. She and an Indian companion named Pawnee (Chief Yowlachie) are assigned to escort the train to Tomahawk. Colonel Dawson orders Dakota to join the posse that is escorting the train and also an Indian scout, Black Wolf, to stir up the local Arapahos. Other gang members plot to blow up the engine during a night stop.