Petticoat Marshal given short-shrift

 TARGET (1952)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

Seen one B-movie western shot in a Hollywood backlot, seen them all. Tim Holt was a B-movie actor of many westerns (though I'll always remember him best as handsome and vulnerable George Minafer in Orson Welles' "The Magnificent Ambersons") and 1952's "Target" might not be so distinguishable from the average but it does score a couple of points for a hint of progressiveness.

It is the lawless town of Pecos, Texas, well, lawless in the sense that there is no marshal. A marshal is desperately needed due to the greedy businessman Conroy (Walter Reed) and his stalwarts who pay for land for next to nothing so they can have their railroad. In the first scene, a newspaper man or just a printing press employee (from the Sentinel, a "progressive" newspaper and also Chairman of the Town Council) is nearly killed by the men after painting a sign warning landowners of Mr. Conroy. Tim Holt (played by Tim Holt!) is a cowhand who comes to the rescue, along with his partner Irish-Mexican Rafferty (enthusiastically played by Richard Martin). They have come into town for a job with stubborn landowner named Bailey (John Hamilton), who refuses to sell his home for a cheap price just so they can build a freight terminal and a stockyard. Land-grabbing for a railroad - progressive times ahead.

Speaking of progressive, the daughter of an ailing marshal comes into Pecos so she can aid in some law and order. Naturally, everyone except Tim and his partner believe a woman (Linda Douglas) can become a marshal (I believe an actual line of dialogue spoken is "We don't need a petticoat marshal!") The female marshal doesn't do enough to justify such a position and the filmmakers I guess felt that such a marshal would never fire a gun (she figures out how to break out of a jail using a belt, a major cliche). As I said, a hint of progressiveness.

"Target" is a fitfully exciting and humorous enough western with the same old gunfights (they could've been shot with more pizazz), same old fistfights, cowboys on horseback running through town, etc. Nothing new here but it will keep you captivated during its short running time, plus Tim Holt is an appealing hero and I love Richard Martin as the flirtatious Rafferty, a recurring role he played in many westerns.