Cherokee Strip (1940) DVD-R

Starring Richard Dix, Florence Rice, William Henry, Victor Jory, Andy Clyde
Directed by Lesley Selander

Print: black/white
Runtime: 86 min.
Genre: western
Print Quality: B

Though not based on a Zane Grey story, The Cherokee Strip fits in
thematically with producer Harry Sherman's Grey series. Richard Dix stars
as Dave Morrell, the new marshal of Goliath, Oklahoma. Immediately upon
arrival, Morrell finds himself at odds with banker Coy Barrett (Victor Jory),
who is actually the leader of all local criminal activities. Cagily playing a
game of cat and mouse, Morrell strongly and silently gathers evidence
against Barrett, leading to an outsized climactic shootout-just in time,
since the film was beginning to drag a bit. Critical comparisons to Dix's
1931 starrer Cimarron could not be avoided, but Cherokee Strip was more
straightforward adventure fare than the earlier film. Florence Rice is the
pretty but hardly necessary romantic interest.