War of the Wildcats/In Old California (John Wayne) DVD – Binnie Barnes, Sidney Blackmer

John Wayne double-bill. In ‘War of the Wildcats’ (1943), attractive schoolteacher Cathy Allen finds herself torn between two men when she arrives in Oklahoma. One is Dan Somers (Wayne), a cowboy dedicated to protecting the interests of the Native Americans living on lands rich in oil. The other is oil operator Jim Gardener, and soon he and Dan are fighting for both Cathy and control of the oil fields. ‘In Old California’ (1942), sees Boston pharmacist Tom Craig (Wayne) travel to San Francisco to make his fortune in the gold rush. There he encounters corrupt politician Britt Dawson, who runs a campaign of terror against the landowners with his hired henchmen. Despite being attracted to Dawson’s beautiful fiancée, Lacey Miller, Tom sets out to organise a rebellion against him.

War Of The Wildcats (Dir. Albert S. Rogell 1943): A cowboy battles with an oil tycoon for drilling rights on Indian lands in Oklahoma during the oil boom days. In Old California (Dir. William McGann 1942): Tom Craig (John Wayne) is a recent arrival to Sacramento California where he is trying to set up his pharmacy. He unfortunately finds out that the town is owned by political boss Britt Dawson (Albert Dekker) who is getting protection money from the townspeople. The town boss meets his match when he tries to frame Craig with poisoned medicine but Craig is ready for a fight.