Montana Belle
Montana Belle is a 1952 Trucolor Western film directed by Allan Dwan and starring Jane Russell. It is one of several fictionalized movies about outlaw Belle Starr. The story is set in Oklahoma, where the real Starr was killed. The word "Montana" in the title refers to the part of the plot in which Starr, wanted by the law, alters her appearance, poses as a widow from Montana and becomes a saloon singer.
| Montana Belle | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Allan Dwan |
| Produced by | Howard Welsch |
| Screenplay by | Horace McCoy Norman S. Hall |
| Story by | M. Coates Webster Howard Welsch |
| Starring | Jane Russell |
| Music by | Nathan Scott |
| Cinematography | Jack A. Marta |
| Edited by | Arthur Roberts |
Production company | Fidelity-Vogue Pictures |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
Release date | |
Running time | 82 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1 million (US)[2] |
Plot
Oklahoma outlaw Belle Starr meets the Dalton gang when she is rescued from lynching by Bob Dalton, who falls for her. So do gang member Mac and wealthy saloon owner Tom Bradfield, who's enlisted in a bankers' scheme to trap the Daltons. Dissension among the gang and Bradfield's ambivalence complicate the plot, as Belle demonstrates her prowess with shootin' irons, horses, and as a saloon entertainer.
Cast
- Jane Russell as Belle Starr
- George Brent as Tom Bradfield
- Scott Brady as Bob Dalton
- Forrest Tucker as Mac
- Andy Devine as Pete Bivins
- Jack Lambert as Ringo
- John Litel as Matt Towner
- Ray Teal as Emmett Dalton
- Rory Mallinson as Great Dalton
- Roy Barcroft as Jim Clark
- Ned Davenport as Bank clerk
- Dick Elliott as Jeptha Rideout
- Gene Roth as Marshall Ripple
- Stanley Andrews as Marshall Combs
Production
Shot between late October and late November 1948, this film was intended to be issued by Republic Pictures. In April 1949, Howard Welsch, who had produced the movie for his company, Fidelity Pictures, sold the negative to RKO for $875,000, about $225,000 above the picture's cost. Finally, this Western obtained a Manhattan debut at the Broadway Palace Theatre on November 7, 1952.
References
- "Montana Belle: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
- 'The Top Box Office Hits of 1953', Variety, January 13, 1954
