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      In Old California

      Released May 31, 1942 1h 28m Western List
      Reviews 47% 1,000+ Ratings Audience Score Tom Craig (John Wayne) is just a modest pharmacist in gold-rush-era California until he discovers saloon owner Britt Dawson (Albert Dekker) is getting rich by forcing the local ranchers to pay protection money. Not one to stand for injustice, Craig rallies the ranchers and attempts to overthrow Dawson's rule. To turn the mob against Craig, Dawson poisons one of Craig's patients and frames the pharmacist, but when illness breaks out, Craig is the only one who can help. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Nov 29 Buy Now

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      Critics Reviews

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      Jose Maria Santos Cine-Mundial This movie is one of those so-called Westerns that has a cast of notable artists and a truly original and interesting plot. [Full Review in Spanish] Sep 16, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      steve d The Same thing Wayne did over and over. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member John Wayne did this movie in honor of his father who was a pharmacist! Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Audience Member Give me a beer. Make it long and make it wet. A Boston pharmacist moves to Sacramento during the height of the gold rush. He sells an elixir of sorts to cure what ills you. A politician wants the pharmacist out of Sacramento and blames him for an epidemic that breaks out in the miners. The pharmacist works quickly to cure the workers and clear his name. "I want cut glass, chandeliers, and gold knobs." William McGann, director of Highway West, We Go Fast, Wolf of New York, Frontier Badman, A Shot in the Dark, and Alcatraz Island, delivers In Old California. The storyline for this picture is fun to watch unfold and a very different character for John Wayne. The settings are okay and the drama wasn't as intense as it could have been. The acting was pretty good and the cast includes Wayne, Patsy Kelly, Albert Decker, and Paul Sutton. "Are you in the mood for a very important question?" I had bookmarked this movie off Netflix because it starred John Wayne and I had never seen it. This was interesting and fun to watch unfold. It wasn't my favorite Wayne movie, but I will say seeing him as something besides a stuffy, wise cracking cowboy was fascinating. Overall, this is worth a viewing but not one of my favorite pictures from this era. "I don't see the point of no joke!" Grade: C+ Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Young John Wayne at his best! All the old-timey western character archetypes are present and done well. Very fun, simple plot, great movie! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member It's too inconsistent in tone and over-plotted to be successful. It tries to be a romantic comedy, a serious Western, and a corn-ball comedy. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Audience Member great laugh, fun characters, nice action, slick pace Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      In Old California

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis Tom Craig (John Wayne) is just a modest pharmacist in gold-rush-era California until he discovers saloon owner Britt Dawson (Albert Dekker) is getting rich by forcing the local ranchers to pay protection money. Not one to stand for injustice, Craig rallies the ranchers and attempts to overthrow Dawson's rule. To turn the mob against Craig, Dawson poisons one of Craig's patients and frames the pharmacist, but when illness breaks out, Craig is the only one who can help.
      Director
      William McGann
      Screenwriter
      Gertrude Purcell, Frances Hyland
      Distributor
      Republic Pictures
      Production Co
      Republic Pictures Corporation
      Genre
      Western
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      May 31, 1942, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Nov 12, 2014
      Runtime
      1h 28m
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