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In this Technicolor western, Errol Flynn courts a dance hall performer (Gentleman Jim‘s Alexis Smith) while trying to prove her boss (Paul Kelly) has been stealing and selling other men’s cattle. San Antonio is a beautiful but unusual studio western, favoring romance and cartoonish comedy over action. The script isn’t the most exciting or engaging, saving most of the action for a climactic, over-the-top shootout at the dance hall. (The number of men who fall from second story balconies and stairways is almost comical.) Too much time is spent between Kelly’s character and his business partner (Victor Francen), another villain of the piece. But Flynn’s charisma, lavish sets, and the rich, color-saturated cinematography help save the day. S.Z. Sakall is memorable as Smith’s funny Hungarian manager, and there’s a remarkable stunt near the end in which two men and a horse fly off a bridge together.
Directed by David Butler. With Florence Bates, John Litel, and music by Max Steiner.
Oscar Nominations: Best Art Direction (Color), Song (“Some Sunday Morning”)