User reviews

Not a great deal to write home about here, this is safe, at times bright, but instantly forgettable fare. The plot basically revolves around a group of honest do good folk trying to get the monopoly on the transport rights by getting their train to an appointed destination in Colorado on time. Naturally the bad guy stagecoach owner wants to stop them, thus no threat to his money maker you see, so the good folk led by Kit Dodge Jr (a sort of Virginal Calamity Jane) have to contend with his underhand tricks and of course the peril provided by Indian raids.

Anne Baxter (Kit) is as cute as a button and most agreeable in the piece, the role is a sort of comedy version of her excellent serious role as Constance Mae 'Mike' in 1948s wonderful Yellow Sky. Joining Anne for this frothy train romp is Dan Dailey, Rory Calhoun and the always watchable Walter Brennan, whilst a mention has to be made that Marilyn Monroe appears in an uncredited role, see if you can spot her? Western purists will no doubt be lifted by the fact that Tonto himself (Chief Thundercloud) also appears, tho it has to be said that he looks rather bemused by it all. 5/10

Anne Baxter gets to do a Calamity Jane type role in A Ticket To Tomahawk where she is a hard riding fast shooting deputy to her father Will Wright. If Anne sang as well as acted, you'd swear she would have been poaching on territory established by Betty Hutton and later by Doris Day.

But the music is left to traveling man Dan Dailey who gets innocently dragooned into an attempted killing of her father. Wright and Baxter dispatch the perpetrators involved easily. Dailey can't ride and shoot as well as Baxter, but he's loaded with charm and in one instance an interesting friend in high places.

To complete the terms of a contract a Hooterville Cannonball type train must make a run to the frontier terminus of Tomahawk in Colorado. But their are a couple of miles of track missing for engineer Walter Brennan and fireman Arthur Hunnicutt to surmount. Never mind everybody pitches in and the results are ingenious and pretty funny.

Of course the owner of the existing stagecoach line is doing what he can to prevent the railroad from completing its mission. And they've got a spy in the railroad crowd in the person of devilishly charming and deadly Rory Calhoun. He's making some moves on Baxter and arousing the concern and jealousy of many.

Along for the trip are the troupe of entertainers that Connie Gilchrist heads. Look sharp and you'll see young Marilyn Monroe as one of the entertainers.

A Ticket To Tomahawk is a pleasant and entertaining western with nice musical interludes and dead shot Anne Baxter who learns she can't get a man with a gun.

Tongue-in-cheek western that's better than it had any right to be. That's mainly because TCF went to the expense of filming in southwestern Colorado, arguably the state's most scenic part. Plus, the lead actors come through in vivid fashion—a charmingly affable Dan Dailey, a spunkily convincing Anne Baxter, and those two grand old grouches Walter Brennan and Will Wright. And shouldn't overlook Chief Yowlachie as the superbly deadpan Indian manikin.

Then too, the story's just wacky enough to separate from the oater pack. Seems a new railroad has to get to Tomahawk to qualify for an exclusive contract. Trouble is this would cause the stage line to go belly-up, so guess who's sabotaging the rail line's effort. And that's along with hostile Indians and 40 miles of missing track. Good thing toughie Baxter's along with her gunslinging skills, along with a pack train of sturdy horses.

I love dad Wright's effort at explaining the birds and the bees to his flummoxed daughter Baxter. Too often the actress over-emoted in her parts, but not here. She's near perfect as the thoroughly virginal tomboy, that is, until the winning Dailey teaches her how to "buss".

I guess my only reservation is with the Indian attack. It's much too conventional for a movie like this, and should have been finessed in slightly humorous fashion. Looks like it might have been included as a concession to audiences expecting something more traditional. Anyway, catch Marilyn Monroe in the fluffy yellow outfit among the four dancers getting a brief musical number. Overall, the elements come together in generally delightful fashion, making the movie something of a minor sleeper, thanks mainly to TCF's handsome budgeting and an outstanding cast.

I noticed one reviewer gave this very standard western a 10. Well, I am not sure I saw what they did in the film, though it is, in my opinion, an agreeable film albeit filled with cliches and one incredibly dumb character.

The film begins with some baddies deliberately halting a train out west. You learn later that some jerk-face is trying to prevent the trains from encroaching on stagecoach territory...a rather silly premise if you really think about it. Soon after this, some baddies attack the nearby sheriff and his rootin', tootin', butt-kicking daughter, Kit (Anne Baxter), immediately KNOWS that Johnny (Dan Dailey) is responsible...though HOW she came to this determination made no sense at all. And, through much of the film, she mistrusts him though there is no apparent logic to this. Can Johnny help Kit get the train through to the end of the line? Tune in and see...or not.

As you noticed in my summary, I hated the character, Kit. She often seemed irrational and goofy...which is a shame as otherwise it's a decent film and Dailey has one of his better performances. A watchable time-passer in color...but otherwise a not particularly special film.

A railroad owner and a frontier salesman who are anxious to arrive, by rail, at the town of Tomahawk are escorted by the deputized granddaughter of the recently wounded town marshal and her chaperon, to see that the railroad reaches its destination by the prescribed time or the contract is forfeited to the Stage Line, whose owner will do anything to stop them.

The only problems are: Kit Dodge Jr.(Anne Baxter) believes that "Johnny Behind the Deuces" (Dan Dailey) was involved with her Grampa's shooting and besides he's a "drummer" and everyone knows that tall, handsome and suave salesmen are not to be trusted. Johnny, however, is the only "paying" passenger on the train and she must protect him although her trigger finger is prepared for his first wrong move. Not being aware of her feminine side holds some hilarious moments as Grampa makes his best tactful effort (words not to be missed ) at a quick version of "the birds and the bees". While she doesn't quite understand, her chaperon, Pawnee (Chief Yowlachie), does and a large Indian with his own tomahawk is the perfect deterrent.

This train ride should be an easy ride for about 40 miles, but the tracks run out a few miles out of town, so they must carry the engine, cars and passenger over a mountain and fight off the stage line's efforts to stop. Soon they meet up with the tracks that run to Tomahawk. Along for the ride is a group of entertainers including Connie Gilchrist and a young Marilyn Monroe. Also in the cast are Walter Brennan as the train's engineer and Rory Calhoun.

This is a fun movie for anyone with a ticket to Tomahawk!

The first train to Tomahawk needs to get there on time so that a franchise can be granted and a trainline officially opened. There is one passenger aboard - Dan Dailey - who sings and dances and can blag a few card tricks. However, the train needs to be chaperoned by the Deputy Marshall - Anne Baxter - to make sure it gets to Tomahawk. You see, there is no track to Tomahawk for the last leg of the journey and the 'iron horse' meets with resistance from the local Indian tribe as well as the town's bad element who want to blow it up. Can Baxter deliver the train to Tomahawk?

The film is a comedy, lightweight musical so you know there is never any real danger. Chief Thundercloud plays the Indian chief and I thought he was terribly cast as an Indian Chief as he looks nothing like an Indian. He's just a white bloke in a costume with no effort made to make him up like an Indian. Turns out he's a genuine Indian! Just shows people's perceptions can be so wrong.

Marilyn Monroe turns up in this as part of a troupe of female 'entertainers' who hitch a ride on the train to Tomahawk. Not sure why but I assume they are being run out of town as a bad element. Know what I mean? She doesn't have much to do but it is fun to spot her in the background of several scenes and the girls put on a show at one point. This is fun to watch, thanks especially to their costumes and glorious Technicolour. It's not a particularly good film and makes no sense but Technicolour saves it and makes it ok to watch. God knows why anyone wants to go to Tomahawk.

In 1876, the Tomahawk & Western Railroad will put the stagecoach business out of business IF it gets a passenger from Epitaph to Tomahawk, Colorado by noon on a specified day. A pistol-packin' Ann Baxter protects the trip with Dan Dailey as the unwilling passenger. Victor Sen Yung (later Hop Sing on Bonanza runs the Long Time Laundry. Worth watching if only to catch a glimpse of Jack Elam as Fargo and Marilyn Monroe as one of the dancing bar girls (neither is credited).

This movie came out four months after "Annie Get Your Gun" with Betty Hutton. Anne Baxter plays a female sharpshooter role quite similar Annie. It suggests that if Betty Hutton had not been available, Anne Baxter would have been an excellent second choice for Annie. While the movie isn't quite as good as Annie, it is a totally entertaining piece shot in gorgeous Technicolor. If 1950 hadn't been a year filled with great movies like "Sunset Boulevard," All About Eve" (with two terrific performances by Ms. Baxter and Betty Davis), "Samson and Delilah," and the aforementioned "Annie Get Your Gun," it is possible that this one would have picked up at least a few nominations.

Dan Dailey has never been better. He is totally relaxed and charming in his role as a salesman of "mustache cups," and subscriptions to the Saturday Evening Post. Anne Baxter plays her Annie type character with surprising ease and coolness. She seems totally natural when she takes the badge and town sheriff role from her wounded grandfather (wonderfully played by character actor Will Wright who appeared on over 60 television shows in the 1950s and early 60s).

Rory Calhoun looks much younger and far handsomer than he was starring in "The Texan" a decade later. This was the first of three movies he was in with Marilyn Monroe. This is Marilyn's debut film, unfortunately she's only in it for about five minute. It is also Western star Jack Elam's debut. Look quick, he's in it for less than minute. You can also catch Victor Sen Yung (Hop Sing on the 1960's Western "Bonanza"). Walter Brennan also has two or three nice small scenes.

If you're a "Maverick" television fan, this is a must see. While not the first comedy Western, this movie is probably closer to "Maverick" in tone and style than any other movie. Its even closer than James Stewart's "Destry Rides Again."

Dailey and Baxter giving great performances is the reason to watch, but the Technicolor, beautiful Colorado scenery, and bit parts by future stars is a lot of icing on this sweet little cake of a movie.

A fun movie. Marilyn Monore had a bit part as a dance-hall girl. Colorado mountain colors were beautiful. Need more movies like this.

Buy the Ticket to Tomahawk and you've bought a comedy, a musical and action packed western all in one. The great adventure starts when the train has to go from Epitaph to Tomahawk through the Colorado Rockies with 40 miles of track gone, hostlile Indians and a gang of henchmen. Ann Baxter gives a riveting performance as deputy Marshal Kit Dodge Jr, who is better at tottin a gun or knife than the men folk. Dan Daily shows his multiple talents as Johnny Behind-the-Deuces. Daily is skillful at singing, joking and negotiating which comes in handy when dealing with Chief Thundercloud. Walter Brennan as Terence Sweeny has never been better as the frustrated engineer who got more than he bargained for. Rory Calhoun as the stagecoach promoter Dakota plays a tough balancing act as the hired hand trying to play both sides of the fence.

Tomahawk is notable for the debut of Marilyn Monroe in a walk-on cameo as a chorus showgirl and Western star Jack Elam. Also featured is Victor Sen Yung who was Hop Sing of "Bonanza" fame. Will Wright plays the crusty old codger he is well noted for. Pawnee (Chief Yowlachie) adds the much needed protection with his own tomahawk as the faithful deterrent. Rounding out an excellent cast are Connie Gilchrist as Madame Adelaide, Arthur Hunnicutt as Sad Eyes and Charles Kemper as Chuckity. Baxter and Monroe went on to appear in All About Eve together the same year.

While Blazing Saddles was one of the Western genres most successful comedies, A TICKET TO TOMAHAWK could have been a precursor to it. While the Mel Brooks blockbuster was stuffed with corny jokes, Tomahawk's humor was more subtle. And its writing therefore to me was more impressive, especially when you least expected it. When Dan Dailey kept shouting at his Indian chief friend, Crooked Knife, during an uprising, trying to identify himself, the Chief continued to shoot arrows at him. Character Madame Adelaide asks him--in the line of battle--"A friend of yours?" He replies, "Fair weather." This title tries to suck you in and use Marilyn Monroe's name value, but of course she had a very bit part. It had a fun cast, and besides the action and comedy, the bonus was the gorgeous Colorado scenery. I'd watch it again for all of that.

A film with two very beautiful girls, one in the lead role, Anne Baxter, the other, not even in the credits, in a very, very small role: Marilyn Monroe. Director Richard Sale, an expert in musical comedies, has worked with Anne Baxter also in "My Wife's Best Friend" (1952) and with Rory Calhoun also in "Meet Me After the Show" (1951). Marilyn is super super sweet and very very young but you almost don't see her, she only appears for a few seconds, being filmed from afar, never in the foreground.

I find most 1950s Westerns to be rather stuffy and dated by modern standards, but this one is actually a lot of fun. The dialog is witty, the characters are unique and well written, and the plot, while absurd in practical terms, makes for good comedy and has plenty of fun twists. While there are a few lines of dialog here and there that haven't aged well, there's a lot less of them than a typical movie from the era, and even the Native American characters are given a brief part to play in the story (although they unfortunately do serve as cannon fodder, in typical 1950s Western fashion, in some other scenes.) There's also lots of awesome train action, and even a strong female main protagonist in Kit Dodge Jr., a witty sharpshooting sheriff's deputy played by the legendary Ann Baxter. All in all, not perfect, but definitely one of the better movies to come out of that era of Colorado-based railroad Westerns.

This western, directed by a non western film maker, a director whose it is the only western, is not bad t all, and far better than its reputation of being a supposed comedy western flick. It is full of charm but of course it is not a gritty story, not the kind of western that, for instance, Henry Hathaway, Joseph Newman or Nathan Juran would have given us. It is full of action, with a beauticul color and it is not too long. I watched it long ago and still thought it was a Richard Bare's film, and not Richard Sale.... I have always confounded both directors names, that's why. But no, it's a true western, even better than a Disney Production stuff.