Helldorado (film)

Helldorado is a 1935 American Western film directed by James Cruze and starring Richard Arlen, Gail Patrick, and Sidney Blackmer. The film is based on the novel Helldorado: Bringing the Law to the Mesquite by William Brede Crisp.

The story centers around a tough marshal, Sheriff Steve Brannon (Richard Arlen), who is sent to the lawless town of Helldorado to clean it up. Helldorado is rife with corruption and controlled by a ruthless saloon owner named Brazos Keene (Sidney Blackmer). Brannon faces numerous challenges, including resistance from Keene and his gang, as well as navigating the complex relationships within the town. Gail Patrick plays the role of a saloon singer who becomes involved in the conflict.

The film features classic Western elements such as gunfights, chases, and showdowns. It explores themes of law and order, justice, and the struggle against corruption in the American West. While not considered a major classic of the genre, Helldorado is a representative example of a B-Western from the 1930s.