Red Mountain (film)
| Red Mountain | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Directed by | William Dieterle |
| Produced by | Hal Wallis |
| Written by |
George W. George George F. Slavin |
| Starring |
Alan Ladd Lizabeth Scott Arthur Kennedy John Ireland |
| Music by | Franz Waxman |
| Cinematography | Charles Lang |
| Edited by | Warren Low |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release dates | November 1951 |
Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $2 million (US rentals)[1] |
Red Mountain is a 1951 Western historical film, starring Alan Ladd, set in the last days of the US Civil War. The plot centers on an attempt by Quantrill's Raiders to stir up rebellion in the West.
Plot
Colorado, 1865: A gold assayer is killed and Lane Waldron is seen leaving, so a posse goes after him and turns into a lynch mob. Lane claims he had a sample from his mine examined by the assayer, but denies shooting him. A noose around Lane's neck is shot in half at the last second by an unseen marksman.
The rescuer turns out to be Brett Sherwood, a Confederate captain from the Civil War. In a hideout, he leaves a gun as a test, and when Lane grabs it and aims it at him, Brett reveals that it's not loaded. Lane's sweetheart, Chris, turns up as well, so Brett takes both of them captive.
Although she has different loyalties than Lane, hating the rebels and General Quantrill in particular for killing her family, Chris frees him from his bonds. Chris is a Southern sympathizer who resents General Sherman's actions in the war on the Union side.
In a struggle, Lane's leg is broken. Brett does everything in his power to help him. He goes to get a doctor. Quantrill and his raiders turn up, and his sergeant, Randall, tries to torture Lane into telling the location of his gold mine. Brett and Chris return with a surgeon, who operates on Lane.
A band of Indians engages Quantrill's men in battle. Lane is shot by a Ute, who is killed by Chris. As he lay dying, Lane says he wants Chris and Brett to have his gold mine. Brett confesses that he was the one who had killed the assayer, who had been trying to cheat him and pulled a gun on him.
Cast
- Alan Ladd as Brett
- Lizabeth Scott as Chris
- John Ireland as Quantrill
- Arthur Kennedy as Lane
- Bert Freed as Randall
- Jeff Corey as Skee
- Neville Brand as Dixon
- Whit Bissell as Miles
Production
The film was originally called Quantrill's Raiders.[2]
At one stage Burt Lancaster and Wendell Corey, who were both under contract to Hal Wallis, were to star.[3] The lead role eventually went to Alan Ladd. It was shot on location in New Mexico near the town of Gallup.[4][5][6]
Director William Dieterle fell ill during the shoot and John Farrow flew out to take over.[7] His work is uncredited.
References
- ↑ 'Top Box-Office Hits of 1952', Variety, January 7, 1953
- ↑ HARTFORD TO FILM FOUR NEW STORIES: 'Touch of Nutmeg' and 'Roman Holiday' Among Properties Producer Has Acquired Of Local Origin By THOMAS F. BRADY Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 19 Apr 1951: 49.
- ↑ STUDIO BRIEFS Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 11 Jan 1950: A6.
- ↑ Schallert, Edwin (27 Sep 1950). "Trevor Howard Signed for Allen Film; Ladd Again Hero of Outdoors". Los Angeles Times.
- ↑ ALAN LADD TO STAR IN HISTORICAL FILM: He Will Appear in 'Quantrell's Raiders,' Which Wallis Will Produce at Paramount U.-I. Buys "Fifth Estate" Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 27 Sep 1950: 48.
- ↑ Alan Ladd's Third Role In Westerns Hollywood Letter By Frank Daugherty Special to The Christian Science Monitor. The Christian Science Monitor (1908-Current file) [Boston, Mass] 24 Nov 1950: 11
- ↑ LEAD IN FOX FILM TO LINDA DARNELL: Actress Is Named by Studio to Role in 'The Guy Who Sank the Navy,' Football Story Marton to Direct "Pedley" By THOMAS F. BRADY Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 26 Oct 1950: 38.