One of my all time favorites.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

I agree with Bill Pearson about this movie being under-rated. And, I agree with those who point out that every cliché in the western book shows up.Yes, but they are handled so well in this good guy vs. bad guy tale starring Randolph (ramrod stiff) Scott, the honest lawman to end all honest lawmen.The mix in this flick is wonderful. Edgar Buchanan plays Edgar Buchanan, a weak lawman. He plays it to the hilt. Dvorak and Fleming as the love interests are top notch. Lloyd Bridges, much younger than his kids, is fine as the homestead hero.Some of the fight scenes are excellent and, what's a western without a few?Altogether, this movie is highly recommended. There is nary a dull moment and, every moment is yours to savor.Definitely - visit "Abilene Town."

There is a lot going for this Western.Randolph Scott, of course, is one thing that stands out in any Western.But this one is extra clever. At first, the viewer feels it's going to be pretty mushy, but we're given surprise after surprise. There is actually a lot of cleverness in this plot, and it actually becomes very credible, even for this era, and certainly more credible than the ridiculous spaghetti westerns of the sixties and seventies.The wit and banter is great. This is one of Edgar Buchanan's shining roles. And the women are the ones who save the day. There are three focal women who become more and more important during the story. There's the older lady who truly becomes the catapult to make things work, there's the gorgeous girl singing in a church next to Randolph (but later it is Lloyd Bridges we realize who will get her), and there is the relatively plain dance hall girl who does have a great pair of legs. Each of them does their part to make things work.But it is the cleverness of the story that in amazing. There is bloodshed, but it is believable bloodshed. All that happens is very credible, and Scott's character is very crafty.What is most "original" and ground breaking, and even "risk taking" is that this movie shows three women performing heroine heroics that actually outdo the three males they are linked to. And in the end, Edgar gets the brave old lady, Lloyd gets the gorgeous girl, and Randolph get "Legs" in stage play style.

Edwin L. Marin had a very varied directorial career. His first film was the excellent "movie" crime drama "The Death Kiss" (1932), he then directed "A Study in Scarlet" (1933). From "Sequoia" (1934) to "Listen Darling" (1938) there wasn't a genre he didn't tackle. He also directed some memorable westerns including "Abilene Town" . It stars reliable Randolph Scott as Deputy Marshall Dan Mitchell and beautiful Ann Dvorak.Ann makes a great entrance putting her musical talents to good use. She plays Rita, the dance hall songbird who sings "I Love it Out Here in the West". She also sings "All You Gotta Do" and "Everytime I Give My Heart" during the film. She runs foul of town Marshall Dan Mitchell for singing and carousing on a Sunday (firearms have to be checked in on entering the town).There is bad blood between the homesteaders and the cattlemen. The homesteaders have come to settle the land but the cattlemen want them out - they want the land for their cattle. Mitchell thinks the home- steaders will be there long after the ranchers are gone. After the farmers settlement is burned war is declared but the cattlemen are not the only ones with an interest in keeping the farmers out. The dance hall is secretly on the cattlemen's side but the general store does some mathematics and realise that keeping the homesteaders happy will be very good for business. Hostilities come to a head when Sherry (Rhonda Fleming in a thankless part) sells barbed wire to a very young Lloyd Bridges as Henry. He is one of the young farmers and after Sherry has a vocal showdown with Mitchell, the way is paved for Sherry and Henry to form a romantic pair. Mitchell, of course has had eyes only for Rita from the start. Edgar Buchanan plays the dithering Sheriff "Bravo" Trimble.Recommended.

Five years after the US Civil War, western folk are more concerned with the age old war between homesteaders and cattle ranchers. The cattlemen herd their wares, from Texas to the trail town of Abilene, Kansas. There, the cowboys find not only big money, but also big confrontation, with homesteaders. Tall in the saddle Marshal Randolph Scott (as Dan Mitchell) tries to keep peace in the town. Mr. Scott has experience mediating between trail hands and saloon patrons. He also juggles the town's finest looking women: sexy saloon singer Ann Dvorak (as Rita) and pretty church lady Rhonda Fleming (as Sherry). Boozy county Sheriff Edgar Buchanan (as Bravo Trimble) offers more comic relief than sharp-shooting assistance."Abilene Town" begins with some promising symbolism and contrast: gunshots interrupt Scott and Ms. Fleming singing a hymn in Church; then, the camera switches to Ms. Dvorak sexily singing her saloon number, which causes a man to fire his gun in pleasure. After that, it really becomes quite a standard western; it is somehow duller than it should be, but not quite awful. Young Lloyd Bridges appears as one of the homesteaders. Dvorak's leggy costume is the film's greatest asset; in it, she is a real mover. **** Abilene Town (1/11/46) Edwin L. Marin ~ Randolph Scott, Ann Dvorak, Edgar Buchanan