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 byAllan Dwan
Produced byHoward Welsch
Screenplay byHorace McCoy
Norman S. Hall
Story byM. Coates Webster
Howard Welsch
StarringJane Russell
Music byNathan Scott
CinematographyJack A. Marta
Edited byArthur Roberts
Production
company
Fidelity-Vogue Pictures
Distributed byRKO Radio Pictures
Release date
  • November 7, 1952 (1952-11-07) (Premiere-New York City)[1]
  • November 11, 1952 (1952-11-11) (US)[1]
Running time
82 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
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

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

  1. "Montana Belle: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  2. 'The Top Box Office Hits of 1953', Variety, January 13, 1954
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