Watch Buckskin Frontier

Buckskin Frontier is a 1943 Western film directed by Lesley Selander and starring Richard Dix, Jane Wyatt, and Albert Dekker. The movie follows Jim Kemple (Dix), a former Confederate officer who settles in Wyoming with his wife, Laura (Wyatt), and young son, Johnny. Kemple becomes the sheriff of the town and works to bring law and order to the frontier.

The story starts with Kemple and his family arriving in Buckskin, Wyoming, a lawless town run by cattle barons who rule with an iron fist. When Kemple takes office, he immediately clashes with the powerful landowner, Champion (Dekker), who has his own ideas about what constitutes justice. Kemple refuses to be intimidated, and the situation comes to a head when Champion's men try to lynch a prisoner Kemple has arrested.

Buckskin Frontier is a classic Western with all the bells and whistles you'd expect from the genre. It's got shootouts, stampedes, and plenty of dusty landscapes. But what sets it apart is the quality of the cast and the depth of the characters. Dix, as Kemple, is a stoic hero with a strong sense of morals. He's not afraid to take on the bad guys, even if it means putting his own life on the line.

Wyatt, as Laura, is a more complex character. She's not your typical Western wife, content to stay at home and tend to the children. Laura is intelligent and feisty, and she's not afraid to challenge her husband when she thinks he's wrong. Her relationship with Kemple is one of the highlights of the movie, and the chemistry between Dix and Wyatt is undeniable.

Dekker is the perfect villain, oozing menace and arrogance. He's not just a mustache-twirling baddie, though. Champion genuinely believes that he's doing the right thing, and he'll stop at nothing to maintain his power. There are shades of grey in his character, which makes him all the more compelling.

The supporting cast is also excellent. Lee J. Cobb plays a crooked lawyer who's in Champion's pocket, and he's suitably sleazy. Lola Lane is the saloon girl who catches Kemple's eye, and she's charming and vivacious. The other actors in the movie all do a great job, but these three stand out.

The action scenes in Buckskin Frontier are well-staged and exciting. There's a chase sequence involving a herd of cattle that's particularly impressive, and the final shootout is satisfyingly tense. The movie was made at a time when Westerns were in their infancy, and some of the tropes that we think of as typical Western fare hadn't been established yet. This means that there are some surprises in store for viewers, which is always a plus.

One thing that sets Buckskin Frontier apart from other Westerns of the era is its emphasis on the importance of law and order. Kemple is determined to bring justice to Buckskin, and he works tirelessly to make sure that the rule of law is upheld. It's a message that still resonates today, especially in the current climate.

Overall, Buckskin Frontier is a solid Western with great performances, a thrilling story, and plenty of action. It's not the most groundbreaking movie of its time, but it's a lot of fun to watch. Fans of the genre won't be disappointed.

Buckskin Frontier is a 1943 western with a runtime of 1 hour and 47 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1.