LINDA DARNELL, or How to Shut Up a U.S. Senator

In the Western "Dakota Incident" (Republic Pictures/1956), voluptuous Linda Darnell plays entertainer Amy Clarke. In the small town of Christian Flats, she is waiting for a stagecoach enroute to Laramie, Wyoming, where her lover absconded with her money. Veteran character actor (and inveterate ogler of women in real life-—according to Harry Carey, Jr.) Ward Bond portrays visiting U.S. Senator Blakely, a grandiloquent man committed over-optimistically to promoting peaceful "white-man/Indian" relations. He also "digs" Amy Clarke, who must constantly rebuff his advances. Reliable Western lead Dale Robertson appears as John Banner, on the lam from a bank heist. Actor John Lund also participates. Filmed on location at California's Red Rock Canyon State Park, "Dakota Incident" follows these principals as they travel by stage through hostile Indian Territory, suffer a wreck, and take apparently hopeless refuge in a dry gulch at the foot of some steep ridges manned by rifle-toting Cheyennes. Director Lewis Foster—who, interestingly, had previously won an Oscar in 1940 for his original story of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939)—keeps the dramatic tension well-balanced between man-vs.-man, man-vs.-nature, and man-vs.-himself. Gifted cinematographer Ernest Haller—who, also in 1940, shared with Ray Rennahan a Best Color Cinematography Oscar for "Gone with the Wind" (1939)—lent a poetic touch to his "pastel" shots of both cast and landscape, by day and night. "Dakota Incident"—though outstanding neither for its character development nor plot resolution (nor yet its sense of life)—is worth watching for its interesting dramatic tension and its visual grace—the latter owing not a little to the presence of Miss Linda Darnell. This YouTube video is primarily a tribute to Linda Darnell; accordingly, it opens with a "roll call" of several of her most significant film appearances—many of which were American-West-related. Secondarily, this video is a good-natured elbow-jab at Ward Bond, whose own film appearances I always welcome. Comments or questions are sincerely welcome; however, lewd or derogatory remarks will be force-fed filibusters. If it hasn't occurred by the time you read this: would you like to see "Dakota Incident" restored and released on DVD? Please petition the studio! Paramount Home Video 5555 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90038-3197 Telephone: 213-956-5000 Fax: 213-956-1100 E-Mail: 5555@paramount.com E-Mail: homevideo@pde.paramount.com Any professional concerns about this upload? PLEASE send me a private-message explanation. I will respond promptly and courteously. Thank you. And I mean it. Thanks for viewing. This video is dedicated to Linda Darnell who must have been one neat gal.