Captain_Augustus_McCrae Review of Dawn at Socorro

Dawn at Socorro (1954)

A REFRESHINGLY LITERATE FILM, TWO CUTS ABOVE THE USUAL WESTERN

[9/10 · 29 January 2021]

This surprisingly enjoyable Western clearly uses the shootout near the OK Corral as both inspiration and springboard for creating a character very reminiscent of Val Kilmer's Doc Holliday from Tombstone. Rory Calhoun's Bret Wade is clearly a cinematic ancestor of Kilmer's Doc, deadly but sophisticated, playing Moonlight Sonata on a tinny saloon piano. The shootout at the stockyard (stand-in for the OK Corral in this film) is a launching pad for a series of events that showcase the drama between the well-drawn characters. Calhoun is terrific as Wade, David Brian is effectively oily and vindictive, and Piper Laurie is not only breathtakingly lovely, but also wistful, empathic, and sensitive. This film is so much better than the run of the mill B oater that one might expect from the time it was made. Just goes to show that, given good material to work with, the cast of usually supporting actors can give excellent performances. 9 out of 10 for this gem of a film.