Movie Review: Adventures of Gallant Bess (1948) directed by Lew Landers
Ted Daniels (Cameron Mitchell) and his pal Woody (Fuzzy Knight) have been sent out to capture a wild horse for their boss Bud Millerick (James Millican) for display in Millerick’s rodeo. Ted finds and manages to capture a magnificent chestnut mare he names Bess (Bess). In the days it takes to bring his prize back to the rodeo, Ted falls in love with the horse. Knowing that Millerick is a cruel trainer, Ted chooses to quit his job and keep Bess, much to his former boss’ ire.
Bess is highly intelligent for a horse, and Ted teaches her many tricks. Unfortunately, he spends more time training the horse than doing ranch work, and can’t hold down a job. Ted learns that Millerick’s rodeo is passing through the same town he is, and is offering a cash prize for the best all-rounder. Ted decides to enter the contest, a poor decision.
It turns out that Millerick isn’t just mean, he’s actively crooked, and he still has that personal grudge against Ted. He has his henchman sabotage the final event. Ted still wins, but his leg is broken. While he’s being treated by small town doctor Gray (Harry Cheshire), the rodeo decamps (except the henchman) without delivering the cash prize.
Bess, upset by her rider’s absence, accidentally damages an automobile. Since Ted is dead broke, the sheriff is forced to sell Bess at auction to pay the bills. Millerick’s henchman manages to bid just a little more than Dr. Gray’s pretty daughter Penny (Audrey Long) for Bess and takes her away.
Months later, Ted is fully recovered. Despite having developed a mutual romantic affection for Penny, he is determined to get Bess back from Millerick, regardless of the legalities of the situation.
This 1948 Western is not a sequel to the 1946 film Gallant Bess despite the similarities in title. The previous movie had been based on a true story about a U.S. Navy officer and the horse he saved during World War Two (starring that very horse!) Though popular, various reasons resulted in the planned series of Gallant Bess films being scrapped. The production company still had dibs on this particular title though, so stuck it on to this movie, perhaps assuming that audiences wouldn’t realize it starred a completely different “Bess.”
Good: The main draw is Bess performing various tricks, and the movie delivers on this premise decently. Also some nice shots of wild horses and rodeo action. While there’s a good fistfight about halfway through, there’s absolutely no gunplay, unusual for a Western. Fuzzy Winter does a nice version of “The Foggy Foggy Dew,” and I would have liked more of that. Towards the end of the film, Ted is forced to understand that Bess is not his horse, but her own horse.
Less good: The movie is often bland, and the romantic couple don’t have chemistry. (Nor does the male lead have chemistry with Bess, which is a pity because that’s the more important relationship.) The acting in general is so-so.
Interesting: The precise era this film is set in is clearly shown by a bar’s large advertisement that they have a television set. (But we don’t actually see the TV.)
Content note: Cruelty to animals. Ted smokes and drinks, which may be offensive to some parents who are looking for clean movies for their kids. Ted is acting illegally through much of the movie, and gets off by a dubiously legal method.
Overall: A mediocre movie with a few good bits. Maybe check out the original Gallant Bess film instead.
