Starring Robert Stack, Ann Rutherford, Richard Dix, Frances Farmer, Broderick Crawford,
Hugh Herbert, Andy Devine, Lon Chaney Jr., Fuzzy Knight
Directed by Alfred E. Green

Print: black/white
Runtime: 74 min.
Genre: western
Print Quality: C

Up-and-coming Universal leading man Robert Stack made his western-movie debut in
Badlands of Dakota. Set in the Dakotas during the days of the Great Gold Boom, the story
finds brothers Jim and Bob Holliday (Stack and Broderick Crawford) dukeing it out over the
affections of pretty Anne Grayson (Ann Rutherford). While all this is going on, Wild Bill
Hickok (Richard Dix) does his best to neutralize the local criminal element-and to fend off
the romantic overtures of boisterous Calamity Jane (Frances Farmer). The screenplay
juggles the facts a bit, concluding with Calamity performing a self-sacrificing act straight
out of Destry Rides Again to save her sweetheart from harm. Just to make sure that the
audience doesn't mistake Badlands of Dakota for Real Life, Hugh Herbert is on hand with his
patented "Woo woo!" comedy relief.