Red Mountain (film)

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.

Red Mountain
Directed byWilliam Dieterle
Produced byHal Wallis
Written byGeorge W. George
George F. Slavin
StarringAlan Ladd
Lizabeth Scott
Arthur Kennedy
John Ireland
Music byFranz Waxman
CinematographyCharles Lang
Edited byWarren Low
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
November 1951
Running time
84 minutes
CountryUnited States
Box office$2 million (US rentals)[1]

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 William Quantrill in particular for killing her family, Chris frees him from his bonds.

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

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
  1. 'Top Box-Office Hits of 1952', Variety, January 7, 1953
  2. THOMAS F. BRADY (Apr 19, 1951). "HARTFORD TO FILM FOUR NEW STORIES: 'Touch of Nutmeg' and 'Roman Holiday' Among Properties Producer Has Acquired Of Local Origin". New York Times. p. 49.
  3. "STUDIO BRIEFS". Los Angeles Times. Jan 11, 1950. p. A6.
  4. Schallert, Edwin (27 Sep 1950). "Trevor Howard Signed for Allen Film; Ladd Again Hero of Outdoors". Los Angeles Times.
  5. "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"". New York Times. Sep 27, 1950. p. 48.
  6. Frank Daugherty Special to The Christian Science Monitor. The (Nov 24, 1950). "Alan Ladd's Third Role In Westerns Hollywood Letter". Christian Science Monitor. p. 11.
  7. THOMAS F. BRADY (Oct 26, 1950). "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"". New York Times. p. 38.
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