I quattro cavalieri dell'Oklahoma

For 1951, not a bad little Western, with some bright colour photography, but after it was over I thought there was little substance to it. A quick Google confirms that Jennings wasn't much success as a crook and that the film took lots of liberties with his story, though I couldn't determine whether the reward for his capture every topped $20,000, as shown in the film. What made his life interesting was his political career after release from prison, but I guess that wouldn't have added much to an "action" Western.

Having fled Oklahoma because he fears being betrayed by his fellow gang members, Jennings returns to them, which didn't seem too bright. And the botched final raid on the train and its meagre rewards seem to sum up his career as a bad man. But the posse wasn't too bright, either, with its 20 or so members failing to capture the depleted Jennings gang at the ranch, though at least this led to a chase and final showdown.

It was good to see a youngish John Dehner, and Guinn Williams in a role where his character wasn't too empty-headed.

Al Jennings of Oklahoma is directed by Ray Nazaro and adapted to screenplay by George Bricker from the book co-written by Al Jennings and Will Irwin. It stars Dan Duryea, Gale Storm, Dick Foran, Gloria Henry, Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams and Raymond Greenleaf. Music is by Mischa Bakaleinikoff and cinematography by W. Howard Greene.

Al Jennings, as played here by Duryea, follows a life trajectory that sees him born into a legal family and thus take up the family trade. Known for his hot temper, it's not long before Al runs into trouble and burnt by the folly of the law when tragedy strikes his family, throws off his legal eagle clobber and turns to the outlaw life. Moving from robbing banks to robbing trains, and with the beautiful Gale Storm's token love interest holding his attention, Al and his brother Frank (Foran) decide to leave crime and go straight. But the past catches up with them and they inevitably end up serving time for their crimes. But there's another twist! The instability of the trial sees Al serve only 5 years of his life sentence and upon release becomes something of a prime mover in the Statehood of Oklahoma.

You sense it's all very romanticised from the actual life of Al Jennings, but in spite of some sub-standard acting and poorly scripted passages, it's still an enjoyable Oater. There's some decent stunt- work early on, a couple of rounds of knuckles (though the court room fight is not greatly constructed), chases, some gun-play and it's nice and colourful with Technicolor photography around the Chatsworth location shoot. So it's watchable enough, even if not very memorable then? Yes, that's about it really. 6/10

I first became interested in this film after seeing a photo of the real Al Jennings in a magazine in the late 60s. The story is taken from one of Jennings books ,'Beating Back', published in 1914, and available to read online. As this is promoted as a true story, I wonder why changes were made to the way events happened; did it make for better viewing, and were the name changes done for legal reasons? Al Jennings was still alive when the film was released; he passed away in 1961, just months after the death of his wife. Firstly, Al's brother was killed by Temple Houston, not the John Marsden of the film: Al was not present at the time, but was sleeping, and alerted to the tragedy. He joined criminals while waiting for the time to exact his revenge on Houston. Secondly, his wife was named Maude E. Deayton, not Margot St.Claire. A fine performance from Dan Duryea, and a rare chance to see him in a leading role. Accurate or not, I give this 10 out of 10 for entertainment value. If you have enjoyed the exploits of Frank and Jesse James, and how two law abiding farmers were turned into bandits by the actions of the railway, then you will enjoy this film.

Do NOT expect this to be a factual docu-drama about the real life Al Jennings. It's fun, but as history and biographies go...look elsewhere for real information on the real and even the reel Al Jennings.

I highly prefered dan Duryea in Spencer Gordon Bennet's THE BOUNTY KILLER where he played a tenderfoot turned a bloodthirsty killer, and still a "villain" who remained more sympathetic than pathetic for the audiences. Here, the story is inspired by an actual character, Al jennings, a outlaw turned lawyer, or the contrary, I don't know and I also don't care. It is boring, lousy, not my stuff at all. OK, I think that unusual destiny had to be told, it's so surprising, but I don't care. Dan Duryea was never better than in a villain or ambiguous, ambivalent character. I agree that in this movie, he is also ambivalent but I definitely don't make it with this however good Ray Nazzaro's feature.