Wildcat (film)

Wildcat is a 1942 American drama film directed by Frank McDonald and written by Richard Murphy and Maxwell Shane. The film stars Richard Arlen, Arline Judge, William Frawley, Buster Crabbe, Arthur Hunnicutt, Elisha Cook, Jr. and Ralph Sanford. The film was released on September 3, 1942, by Paramount Pictures.[1][2][3]

Wildcat
Theatrical release poster
Directed byFrank McDonald
Produced byWilliam H. Pine
William C. Thomas
Screenplay byRichard Murphy
Maxwell Shane
Based onstory "Roaring Gold" by North Bigbee
StarringRichard Arlen
Arline Judge
William Frawley
Buster Crabbe
Arthur Hunnicutt
Elisha Cook, Jr.
Ralph Sanford
Music byFreddie Rich
CinematographyFred Jackman Jr.
Edited byWilliam H. Ziegler
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • September 3, 1942 (1942-09-03)
Running time
70 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

Oil man Johnny Maverick dubs a young hitchhiker "Chicopee" after the name of his hometown, then makes him a full partner, digging for oil. Chicopee is killed in a rig accident, however, and rival Mike Rawlins then sabotages the rig.

Things get worse for Johnny when con artists Nan and Oliver turn up. She pretends to be Chicopee's sister, so Johnny gullibly gives her the half-interest in his oil rig.

Rawlins buys up Johnny's outstanding debts and intends to take over. In an act of desperation, Johnny uses nitroglycerine to blast open an oil well, resulting in a gusher. An explosion ends up knocking Rawlins unconscious and pinning Johnny beneath the wreckage, but Nan, having fallen in love with Johnny, comes to his rescue.

Cast

Production

The film was based on a story by North Bigbee, a journalist who had worked in the oil industry, which was purchased by Pine-Thomas Productions. They assigned it to star Richard Arlen, after he did Torpedo Run for the studio.[4]

Pine-Thomas wanted a "Jean Harlow type" for the female lead and even tested Harlow's stand in.[5] Jean Wallace was originally announced for the role[6] but did not appear in the final movie. She was replaced by Arline Judge who signed a three picture deal with Pine-Thomas.[7]

The film reportedly had Pine-Thomas' biggest budget yet to date.[8]

References
  1. "Wildcat (1942) - Overview". TCM.com. Retrieved 2015-03-22.
  2. "Wildcat - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2015-03-22.
  3. Wildcat Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 9, Iss. 97, (Jan 1, 1942): 118.
  4. 20th Signs Laughtons to Play Married Pair Los Angeles Times 23 Oct 1941: A10.
  5. Gold-Rush Days Epic Will Star John Wayne: 'Wildcat' Lead Elusive Berlin Revue Plans Told Training Films Praised 'Tarzan' Vamp Selected Feldary Cast in 'Bell' Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 13 Dec 1941: 9.
  6. Of Local Origin New York Times 24 Oct 1941: 27.
  7. DRAMA: Unique Stories Again Prevail in Filmdom Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 10 Jan 1942: 7.
  8. Jessie Matthews Will Sparkle Here at Last Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 8 Dec 1941: A11.


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