Blu Ray Review: The Plainsman (1936)

Kino Lorber has released Cecil B. DeMille’s epic western set during the time of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination when the American west was in transition. Gary Cooper stars as Wild Bill Hickock, who teams with Calamity Jane (Jean Arthur) and Buffalo Bill (James Ellison) in order to tame the west.

The Plainsman is, quite frankly, one of the finest westerns of the 1930s, filled with action, romance, and some humor, with fine performances by its stars. Cecil B. DeMille became noted for his handling of big budget epics, and one of the most impressive things about The Plainsman is how he effectively fills the negative space. The actors in the foreground are often framed by constant background movement, with a natural, organic visual sense. On other occasions, DeMille presents the vastness of the old west as a stagecoach bounces along surrounded by an empty stillness with the surrounding land. The characters are well drawn and appealing, and the narrative remains compelling while never becoming uneven as it fluctuates between plot development and action sequences.

In support of the three leads, Charles Bickford is at his evil best, Helen Burgess is attractive and appealing, and the film is dotted with familiar faces like Gabby Hayes, Fuzzy Knight, Frank Albertson, and a delightfully creepy Porter Hall as Jack McCall.

Helen Burgess made her film debut with this movie, Cecil B. DeMille telling the press at that time: "I broke a rule when I chose Miss Burgess for the part of Louisa Cody. It was the first time that I have cast a player without previous screen experience in an important role. But, as soon as I saw Miss Burgess, I realized that she had the making of a strong and appealing screen personality." Ms Burgess only lived to appear in four movies before dying of pneumonia at 20 in 1937 just as she was scheduled to appear opposite George Raft in Fritz Lang’s You and Me (she was replaced by Sylvia Sidney). Paramount studios had big plans for the pretty actress which sadly ended in tragedy.

Commentary for Kino Lober’s blu ray of The Plainsman is provided by the always interesting film critic and journalist Simon Abrams. It can be purchased at this link: PLAINSMAN