"Klondike Kate" was Director William Castle's second directing effort. Low budget to be sure, he was not given any of Columbia's name players for his cast. Tom Neal and Ann Savage played the leads but were largely unknown at this time. They would gain greater fame two years later in the cult classic "Detour".
The scene is the small town of Totem Pole (I think) somewhere in the Klondike. We have to assume that it is Alaska since this was an American film. A train arrives carrying Molly (Glenda Farrell) and her dance hall girls and straight laced Kathleen O'Dea (Savage). Saloon owner "Sometime" Smith (Sheldon Leonard) had sent for the girls but was out of town so rival saloon owner Jefferson Braddock (Neal) signs them up for a higher salary.
Kathleen mistaken at first for one of the dance hall girls, announces that she is the owner of Braddock's saloon by inheritance. She enlists the aid of "Judge" Horace Crawford (George Cleveland) to help her. Braddock is immediately attracted to Kathleen and makes no bones about it.
In a mock trial, Kathleen realizes that her claim to ownership will never be recognized in this lawless town and agrees to hire on as a singer while Braddock continues to wine and dine her much to the dismay of rival singer Lita (Constance Worth) who was Braddock's former favorite.
Smith challenges Braddock to a one card winner take all card game for the title to both saloons. Smith uses Lita to plant a marked deck which he uses to acquire Braddock's place. To prevent the two men, Braddock in particular, from going into the street to shoot it out, Kathleen devises a plan whereby if one or the other is found murdered, the other will be hung without trial.
Well...guess what? Smith turns up shot to death and the townsmen come after Braddock and...............
There's not much action in this one until the end when we are treated to a rough and tumble saloon brawl. Other than that there are several dance numbers and songs and Braddock's efforts to land Kathleen. An overweight Dan Seymour has a nice little bit as Harry the piano player.
Castle would continue to direct xthe studio's "B" product well into the fifties before emerging as a fright director with 1959"s "The House on Haunted Hill".
The scene is the small town of Totem Pole (I think) somewhere in the Klondike. We have to assume that it is Alaska since this was an American film. A train arrives carrying Molly (Glenda Farrell) and her dance hall girls and straight laced Kathleen O'Dea (Savage). Saloon owner "Sometime" Smith (Sheldon Leonard) had sent for the girls but was out of town so rival saloon owner Jefferson Braddock (Neal) signs them up for a higher salary.
Kathleen mistaken at first for one of the dance hall girls, announces that she is the owner of Braddock's saloon by inheritance. She enlists the aid of "Judge" Horace Crawford (George Cleveland) to help her. Braddock is immediately attracted to Kathleen and makes no bones about it.
In a mock trial, Kathleen realizes that her claim to ownership will never be recognized in this lawless town and agrees to hire on as a singer while Braddock continues to wine and dine her much to the dismay of rival singer Lita (Constance Worth) who was Braddock's former favorite.
Smith challenges Braddock to a one card winner take all card game for the title to both saloons. Smith uses Lita to plant a marked deck which he uses to acquire Braddock's place. To prevent the two men, Braddock in particular, from going into the street to shoot it out, Kathleen devises a plan whereby if one or the other is found murdered, the other will be hung without trial.
Well...guess what? Smith turns up shot to death and the townsmen come after Braddock and...............
There's not much action in this one until the end when we are treated to a rough and tumble saloon brawl. Other than that there are several dance numbers and songs and Braddock's efforts to land Kathleen. An overweight Dan Seymour has a nice little bit as Harry the piano player.
Castle would continue to direct xthe studio's "B" product well into the fifties before emerging as a fright director with 1959"s "The House on Haunted Hill".