The Gunfight at Dodge City is a 1959 DeLuxe Color Western CinemaScope film. It was produced by the Mirisch Company, directed by Joseph M. Newman, co-written by Martin Goldsmith and Daniel B. Ullman and starred Joel McCrea as Bat Masterson.
Bat Masterson isn't one to actively seek out trouble, but he never shies away from it either. When a military sergeant in Hays City attempts to take him down and pays the ultimate price, Bat decides to make his way to Dodge City. There, his brother Ed holds the position of city marshal and is running for county sheriff against the corrupt Regan.
In Dodge City, Bat invests in a local saloon and forms a partnership with the widow Lily. However, their peaceful arrangement is disrupted when Bat becomes the target of an ambush. Suddenly, he finds himself in the running for sheriff and inherits Ed's romantic intentions towards Pauline, the daughter of a minister.
Can Bat, a gunslinger with a strong sense of justice but a flexible approach to the law, transform himself into a lawman and lead a settled life? Or will trouble persistently seek him out, making it impossible for him to escape his tumultuous past?
The Gunfight at Dodge City contains examples of:
- Accidental Aiming Skills: Joked about after Bat wounds one of the cowboys who was trying to shoot up the town and hands him over to Doc Tremaine to treated and jailed:Doc Tremaine: Next time do me a favor and try to miss the bone.
Bat Masterson: Are you kidding? I was lucky to miss the horse. - Artistic Licence – History: Unlike what is portrayed in this film, Bat Masterson was already sheriff of Ford County before his brother Ed, the town marshal of Dodge City, was murdered. He was also never part-owner of the Lady Gay Saloon: that was his brother Jim.
- Attempted Rape: Dave Rudabaugh enters Lily's bedroom and attempts to force himself on her. Her screams bring Bat Masterson and Rudabaugh uses this an opportunity to try to murder Bat.
- Betty and Veronica: Bat is caught between Lily, the widow who owns the saloon (Veronica) and Pauline, the minister's daughter (Betty).
- Blasting It Out of Their Hands: When Bat goes to stop the cowboys from Firing in the Air a Lot, one of them draws on him. Bat shoots him in the arm—forcing him to drop his gun—and then warns the other cowboys that he still has five bullets left and that his aim might get worse the more he has to shoot. They back down.
- Firing in the Air a Lot: One of the issues in Dodge City is the 'Saturday night shoot-ups', when drunken cowhands ride through the town firing their guns into the air after the saloons close.
- Frontier Doctor: Doc Sam Tremaine is the only doctor in Dodge City and claims that he wants to see the town tamed so he will have less work to do. Over the course of the film, he supports Bat in almost everything he does, including acting as a croupier at the Lady Gay, serving as jailer, and helping Bat to hijack a stagecoach.
- Historical Domain Character: Bat Masterson, Ed Masterson and Dave Rudabaugh were all historical figures who would have crossed paths in Dodge City, although not in the way the film depicts.
- In the Back: Bat's brother Ed is shot in the back by Dave Rudabaugh.
- I Own This Town: Sheriff Jim Regan is a corrupt lawman who takes cents on the dollar of every transaction conducted in Dodge City, and drives out or kills anyone who stands up to him.
- Nuclear Candle: Lily lights a single candle that not only lights up her entire bedroom, but illuminates her face from the opposite side to where it is located.
- Preacher Man: Reverend Howard is Pauline's father and, although he disapproves of Bat Masterson as a gambler and gunfighter, supports his run at sheriff and he realises Bat is the only man to stand a chance of defeating Jim Regan.
- Saloon Owner: Bat enters a partnership with Lily, the proprietress of the Lady Gay saloon who faces ruin as the Sheriff and his deputies are attempting to force them out of business by first murdering her original partner, than frightening off her croupiers.
- Showdown at High Noon: Ends with a showdown in the main street of Dodge City between Bat Masterson and Jim Regan.
- Vulnerable Convoy: When Billy is being transported to Wichita to be executed, Bat and Doc rescue him by hijacking the stagecoach that is being used to transport him when it stops at watering place.
