THE FAR COUNTRY
PRODUCED BY AARON ROSENBERG
DIRECTED BY ANTHONY MANN
UNIVERSAL INTERNATIONAL PICTURES
Information from IMDb
Plot Summary
In 1896, Jeff Webster sees the start of the Klondike gold rush as a golden opportunity
to make a fortune in beef...and woe betide anyone standing in his way!
He drives a cattle herd from Wyoming to Seattle, by ship to Skagway,
and (after a delay caused by larcenous town boss Gannon) through the mountains to Dawson.
There, he and his partner Ben Tatum get into the gold business themselves.
Two lovely women fall for misanthropic Jeff, but he believes in every-man-for-himself,
turning his back on growing lawlessness...until it finally strikes home.
Written by Rod Crawford
Full Cast
James Stewart ... Jeff Webster
Ruth Roman ... Ronda Castle
Corinne Calvet ... Renee Vallon
Walter Brennan ... Ben Tatum
John McIntire ... Gannon
Jay C. Flippen ... Rube
Harry Morgan ... Ketchum (as Henry Morgan)
Steve Brodie ... Ives
Connie Gilchrist ... Hominy
Robert J. Wilke ... Madden (as Robert Wilke)
Chubby Johnson ... Dusty
Royal Dano ... Luke
Jack Elam ... Newberry
Kathleen Freeman ... Grits
Connie Van ... Molasses
Gregg Barton ... Rounds (uncredited)
Robert Bice ... Miner (uncredited)
Eugene Borden ... Doc Vallon (uncredited)
Andy Brennan ... Man (uncredited)
Paul Bryar ... Sheriff Walters (uncredited)
Dick Dickinson ... Miner (uncredited)
John Doucette ... Miner Who Spills Gold Dust (uncredited)
Angeline Engler ... Mrs. Kingman (uncredited)
Robert Foulk ... Const. Kingman (uncredited)
Terry Frost ... Joe Merin (uncredited)
John Halloran ... Bartender (uncredited)
Carl Harbaugh ... Sourdough (uncredited)
Don C. Harvey ... Tom Kane (uncredited)
Gina Holland ... Girl (uncredited)
James W. Horan ... Miner (uncredited)
Donald Kerr ... Barfly at the Castle Dawson (uncredited)
John Mackin ... Miner (uncredited)
Ted Mapes ... Deputy (uncredited)
Frank Mills ... Barfly at the Castle Dawson (uncredited)
Damian O'Flynn ... Second Mate on Riverboat Chinook (uncredited)
Eddie Parker ... Carson (uncredited)
Stuart Randall ... Capt. Benson (uncredited)
Allan Ray ... Bosun on Riverboat Chinook (uncredited)
Chuck Roberson ... Latigo (uncredited)
Paul Savage ... Miner (uncredited)
Marjorie Stapp ... Girl (uncredited)
Dick Taylor ... Miner (uncredited)
Eddy Waller ... Yukon Sam (uncredited)
Guy Wilkerson ... Tanana Pete (uncredited)
Jack Williams ... Shep (uncredited)
William J. Williams ... Gant (uncredited)
Writing Credits
Borden Chase (story and screenplay)
Original Music
Henry Mancini (uncredited)
Hans J. Salter (uncredited)
Frank Skinner (uncredited)
Herman Stein (uncredited)
Cinematography
William H. Daniels
Trivia
One of James Stewart's favorite stories of his film career concerned his horse, Pie, a sorrel stallion whom Stewart called, "One of the best co-stars I ever had." Pie appeared as Stewart's horse in 17 Westerns, and the actor developed a strong personal bond with the horse. Pie was very intelligent, Stewart recalled, and would often "act for the cameras when they were rolling. He was a ham of a horse." When shooting the climax of "The Far Country," the script called for Stewart's horse to walk down a dark street alone, with no rider in the saddle, to fool the bad guys who were waiting to ambush Stewart. Assistant Director John Sherwood asked Stewart if Pie would be able to do the scene. Stewart replied, "I'll talk to him." Just before the cameras rolled, Stewart took Pie aside and whispered to the horse for several minutes, giving him instructions for the scene. When Stewart let the horse go, Pie walked perfectly down the middle of the street, doing the scene in one take. When Pie died in 1970, Stewart arranged to have the horse buried at his California ranch.
The Finnish title of this film is "Seikkailijoiden luvattu maa", meaning "The Promised Land of Adventurers" in English.
Goofs
Continuity
The distance between Jeff's hand and his six-shooter on the bar between shots.
Factual errors
The film takes place in 1896. Ronda Castle contracts Jeff Webster to drive her caravan until Dawson, Canada. Nevertheless, that Canadian miner town-site was named Dawson only in January 1897
Filming Locations
Athabasca Glacier, Alberta, Canada
Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada
Watch the Trailer
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