On the morning of November 23, 1850, a gambler named John Oakhurst walks through Poker Flat, a small mining town in the American West. The town’s “moral atmosphere” has changed, and Oakhurst knows that the town is “after somebody.” He reflects calmly that he’s probably the one the town. The Outcasts of Poker Flat (1937) Passed 1h 7min History, Romance, Western 16 April 1937 (USA) A California mining camp is plagued by a series of murders. Four people come under suspicion for the killings and are run out of the camp.

The Outcasts of Poker Flat | |
---|---|
Directed by | Joseph M. Newman |
Produced by | Julian Blaustein |
Screenplay by | Edmund H. North |
Based on | Bret Harte |
Starring | Anne Baxter Dale Robertson |
Music by | Hugo Friedhofer |
Cinematography | Joseph LaShelle |
Edited by | William Reynolds |
Production company | |
Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release date | |
Running time | 81 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
The Outcasts of Poker Flat is a 1952 American Western film directed by Joseph M. Newman and starring Anne Baxter and Dale Robertson.[1] The screenplay is based on a short story of the same name by Bret Harte. Harte's story has been brought to film at least five times, including in 1919 with Harry Carey and in 1937 with Preston Foster.
Plot[edit]
Ryker, a murderous western outlaw, leaves death and destruction behind after a robbery in Poker Flat and leaves the loot with his wife, Cal, before riding off. A while later, the shaken town decides to banish all undesirables. They include gambler John Oakhurst, saloonkeeper and madam The Duchess and the town drunk, as well as Cal, who had been spotted with Ryker, even though no one knows they are husband and wife.
The others follow Oakhurst, not knowing what else to do. They come across young Tom Dakin and pregnant sweetheart Piney, who were headed for Poker Flat to be wed. In a snowstorm, John leads them to a remote cabin. They have no horses, so Tom takes off for Poker Flat on foot to get help, given $500 of the stolen money by Cal in case he needs to pay someone to form a rescue party.
Ryker turns up, also on foot. He is shocked to find Cal, becomes suspicious and beats her, as well as bullying the others and eating all of their remaining food. He shoots the drunk just for taking a bottle of whiskey. Cal develops a bond with Oakhurst and eventually reveals her situation to him. A fight begins after Ryker shoots and kills The Duchess in cold blood, and Oakhurst is able to strangle him to death. Some head back toward town, while Oakhurst and Cal go the other way.

Cast[edit]
- Anne Baxter as Cal
- Dale Robertson as John Oakhurst
- Miriam Hopkins as Mrs. Shipton aka 'The Duchess'
- Cameron Mitchell as Ryker
- Craig Hill as Tom Dakin
- Barbara Bates as Piney Wilson
- William H. Lynn as Jake Watterson
- Dick Rich as Drunk
References[edit]
- ^The Outcasts of Poker Flat at the American Film Institute Catalog
External links[edit]
- The Outcasts of Poker Flat on IMDb
- The Outcasts of Poker Flat at AllMovie
- The Outcasts of Poker Flat at the TCM Movie Database