Dakota

Story

Synopsis

In 1871, professional gambler John Devlin elopes with Sandra "Sandy" Poli, daughter of Marko Poli, an immigrant who has risen to railroad tycoon. Sandy, knowing that the railroad is to be extended into Dakota, plans to use their $20,000 nest egg to buy land options to sell to the railroad at a profit. On the stage trip to Ft. Abercrombie, their fellow passengers are Jim Bender and Bigtree Collins, who practically own the town of Fargo and Devlin is aware that they are prepared to protect the little empire... trying to drive out the farmers by burning their property, destroying their wheat, and blaming the devastation on the Indians. Continuing their journey north on the river aboard the "River Bird', Sandy and John meet Captain Bounce, an irascible old seafarer. Two of Bendender's henchmen, Slagin and Carp, board the boat and relieve John of his $20,000 at gunpoint. Captain Bounce, chasing the robber's dinghy..

Director

Joseph Kane

Writers

Lawrence Hazard, Carl Foreman, Howard Estabrook

Language

English

Country

United States of America

Release date

15 December 1945

Ensemble

Cast

• 

  John Wayne

  John Devlin

• 

  Vera Ralston

  Sandy Poli

• 

  Walter Brennan

  Bounce of the Riverbird

• 

  Ward Bond

  Jim Bender

• 

  Ona Munson

  Jersey Thomas

• 

  Hugo Haas

  Marko Poli

• 

  Mike Mazurki

  Bigtree Collins

• 

  Olive Blakeney

  Mrs. Stowe

• 

  Paul Fix

  Carp

• 

  Grant Withers

  Slagin

• 

  Robert Livingston

  Lieutenant

• 

  Olin Howland

  Devlin's Driver