When the Daltons Rode

When the Daltons Rode
When the Daltons Rode
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	George Marshall
Screenplay by	Harold Shumate
Based on	When the Daltons Rode; by Emmett Dalton and Jack Jungmeyer
Starring	Randolph Scott; Kay Francis; Brian Donlevy;
Cinematography	Hal Mohr
Edited by	Edward Curtiss
Music by	Frank Skinner
Production; company	Universal Pictures
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release dates	July 25, 1940 (Coffeyville, Kansas); August 23, 1940 (United States);
Running time	81 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

When the Daltons Rode is a 1940 American Western film directed by George Marshall and starring Randolph Scott, Kay Francis and Brian Donlevy. Based on the 1931 book of the same name by Emmett Dalton, a member of the Dalton gang, and Jack Jungmeyer, Sr., the film also includes a fictional family friend who tries to dissuade the Dalton brothers from becoming outlaws.

Plot[]

The Dalton brothers, law-abiding farmers, move to Kansas from Missouri to begin a new life. Bob Dalton meets lawyer Tod Jackson and persuades him to defend his kin Ben Dalton in a court case against a corrupt land-development company.

A melee erupts during the trial and the Daltons shoot their way out of the courtroom. Cronies of the land developers and the press portray the brothers negatively. Ben is shot in the back. Unable to live lawfully, the Daltons rob a stagecoach and their reputation as dangerous outlaws spreads.

Tod has fallen in love with Bob Dalton's fiancée Julie. He urges the Daltons to change their ways, but they defy him and pull one more bank job in Kansas. Bob and Grat are killed there, as are two other members of the gang, but Emmett survives.

Cast[]

Randolph Scott as Tod Jackson
Kay Francis as Julie King
Brian Donlevy as Grat Dalton
George Bancroft as Caleb Winters
Broderick Crawford as Bob Dalton
Stuart Erwin as Ben Dalton
Andy Devine as Ozark Jones
Frank Albertson as Emmett Dalton
Mary Gordon as Ma Dalton
Harvey Stephens as Rigby
Edgar Dearing as Sheriff
Quen Ramsey as Clem Wilson
Dorothy Granger as Nancy
Robert McKenzie as Photographer
Fay McKenzie as Hannah
Walter Soderling as Judge Lucius Thorndown (Judge Swain in the credits)
Mary Ainslee as Minnie
Erville Alderson as Dist. Atty. Wade
Sally Payne as Annabella
Edgar Buchanan as Old Timer (uncredited)
June Wilkins as Suzy

Production[]

The film was based on Emmett Dalton's autobiography. Universal announced the project in March 1940 with filming to begin in May. Stuart Anthony and Lester Cole worked on the script.^[1]

References[]

^ SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Universal to Produce 'When the Daltons Rode'--'Girls' Best Friend' Is Purchased 'TOO MANY HUSBANDS' HERE 'Northwest Passage,' Screen Version of Kenneth Roberts Book, at Capitol Today Of Local Origin, New York Times, March 7, 1940: 27.

External links[]

When the Daltons Rode at IMDb
When the Daltons Rode at the TCM Movie Database
When the Daltons Rode at AllMovie

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[1] SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Universal to Produce 'When the Daltons Rode'--'Girls' Best Friend' Is Purchased 'TOO MANY HUSBANDS' HERE 'Northwest Passage,' Screen Version of Kenneth Roberts Book, at Capitol Today Of Local Origin, New York Times, March 7, 1940: 27.

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