Title: Abilene Town
Year: 1946
Genres: Western; Drama
Director: Edwin L. Marin

Cast:

• Randolph Scott as Marshal Dan Mitchell
• Ann Dvorak as Lily Cantrell
• Edgar Buchanan as Grandy
• William Bishop as Tom Sharp
• Ann Doran as Hannah “Ma” McCall
• Edgar Barrier as Stuart Reid
• Forrest Tucker as Curt Stanton
• Charles McGraw as Abe McQuown
• Paducah Smith as Pap

Synopsis:

Marshal Dan Mitchell arrives in Abilene, Kansas, determined to uphold the law in a town torn between cattle barons and settlers. He clashes with powerful cattleman Abe McQuown, who wants to force homesteaders off their land, and forms a bond with schoolteacher Lily Cantrell, whose father was killed during a recent range war. As tensions escalate into violence, Mitchell must navigate political corruption and personal vendettas to restore peace. In a climactic showdown, he outguns McQuown’s hired guns and secures justice for the townspeople.

Trivia:

• Based loosely on historical conflicts in post–Civil War Kansas over cattle drives and settlement.
• Filmed in Technicolor, showcasing vibrant Western landscapes.
• Randolph Scott’s stoic portrayal helped cement his status as a classic Western hero.
• Edgar Buchanan reportedly improvised much of his comic relief dialogue as Grandy.
• The film’s depiction of range wars influenced later genre staples like Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.