Gentle Annie (1944)

Set against the backdrop of the arid Oklahoma Territory in 1901, the movie "Gentle Annie" unfolds like a dusty, windblown page from the annals of the Wild West. The tale begins with a daring train robbery, executed by three masked novices, one of whom draws attention for his uncanny resemblance to an Indian. Enter US Marshal Lloyd Richland, who takes on the alias of Rich Williams, a drifter en route to California, to unravel the mystery of the crime and apprehend the perpetrators. His investigation leads him to Pohoka City, a town that thrives on lawlessness under the iron-fisted rule of its corrupt sheriff and saloon owner, Tatum. This questionable locale is rife with whispers that point towards the Goss siblings, Cottonwood and Violet, as the culprits. However, counter-rumors about a gold mine on their property cast doubt on their need to resort to crime. As Richland delves deeper, he discovers the surprising truth. The Goss siblings, along with their boisterous, widowed mother Annie, affectionately known as 'Muddy', are the true train robbers. The Indian disguise was Muddy's braided hair, a quick assumption made by the eye witnesses. The trio had masterminded the robbery to accrue enough money to buy back their old farm in Missouri. Intricately woven into this wild tapestry is the Goss family's generosity and kindness, which they extend towards Richland and a penniless young woman, Mary Lingen. Their warmth and hospitality starkly contrast their criminal activities, leaving Richland torn between his duty and the empathy he feels for the Goss family. As Richland battles his moral dilemma, the simmering feud between the Goss family and the ruthless Sheriff Tatum reaches a boiling point. Amidst this chaos, Richland must track down the train robbers, keep a watchful eye on the duplicitous Tatum, and protect the innocent Mary. "Gentle Annie" is a compelling tale that explores the blurred lines between law and morality, set amidst the raw, untamed expanse of the early 20th century American frontier.

Gentle Annie is a romance movie featuring James Craig.

Gentle Annie is currently streaming on DIRECTV.