NIGHT PASSAGE
DIRECTED BY JAMES NEILSON
PRODUCED BY ARRON ROSENBERG
UNIVERSAL INTERNATIONAL PICTURES
Information from IMDb
Plot Summary
The workers on the railroad haven't been paid in months ---
that's because Whitey and his gang, including fast-shooting, dangerous,
but likeable Utica Kid, keep holding up the train for its payroll. Grant McLaine,
a former railroad employee who was fired in disgrace, is recruited to take the payroll
through under cover. A young boy and a shoebox figure into the plot when
Whitey's gang tries to hold up the train and Grant and the Kid meet again to settle an old score.
Written by A.L.Beneteau
Full Cast
James Stewart ... Grant McLaine
Audie Murphy ... The Utica Kid
Dan Duryea ... Whitey Harbin
Dianne Foster ... Charlotte Drew
Elaine Stewart ... Verna Kimball
Brandon De Wilde ... Joey Adams
Jay C. Flippen ... Ben Kimball
Herbert Anderson ... Will Renner
Robert J. Wilke ... Concho
Hugh Beaumont ... Jeff Kurth
Jack Elam ... Shotgun
Tommy Cook ... Howdy Sladen
Paul Fix ... Mr. Feeney
Olive Carey ... Miss Vittles
James Flavin ... Tim Riley
Donald Curtis ... Jubilee
Ellen Corby ... Mrs. Feeney
John Daheim ... Latigo (as John Day)
Kenny Williams ... O'Brien
Frank Chase ... Trinidad
Harold Goodwin ... Pick Gannon (as Herold Goodwin)
Harold 'Tommy' Hart ... Shannon (as Harold Tommy Hart)
Jack C. Williams ... Dusty
Boyd Stockman ... Torgenson
Henry Wills ... Pache
Chuck Roberson ... Roan
Willard W. Willingham ... Click (as Willard Willingham)
Polly Burson ... Rosa
Patsy Novak ... Linda
Ted Mapes ... Leary
Edwin C. Johnson ... Telegraph Operator Near Beginning (uncredited)
William 'Bill' Phillips ... Blacksmith / Livery Stable Owner (uncredited)
Ben Welden ... Pete (uncredited)
Writing Credits
Borden Chase (screenplay)
Norman A. Fox (novel)
Original Music
Dimitri Tiomkin
Cinematography
William H. Daniels
Trivia
First feature produced in the United States in the Technirama widescreen process,
developed by the Technicolor Corp.
Many of the credits were rendered in the style of the Technirama trademark.
James Neilson replaced Anthony Mann as director when Mann walked off the picture
after a falling out with James Stewart.
James Stewart wasn't impressed with the script, but accepted the role of Grant McLaine
because he believed the part would allow him to show off his skills as an accordion player.
However, all of his accordion playing was re-recorded by a professional prior to the movie's release.
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Filmed in Silverton, Colorado (called Junction City in the movie)
using the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
This was originally intended to be the sixth Western combining the talents of actor
James Stewart and director Anthony Mann (they had also done three non-Westerns together),
but Mann pulled out of the project because he wasn't impressed with war hero-turned-actor Audie Murphy.
Stewart and the director would never make another picture together.
Anthony Mann refused to direct the film, saying nobody would understand it.
He also said he believed the script was bad and that Audie Murphy - who was 5'5" -
would not be believable as the brother of James Stewart, who was 6'3".
After the film opened to poor reviews and business, Stewart never spoke to Mann again.
In August 1957, this film was being being shown on a double bill with The Delinquents.
The real name of the Utica Kid turns out to be Lee, thus the names of the warring brothers
are Grant and Lee, just like the opposing generals in the Brothers' War (the American Civil War)
Goofs
Audio/visual unsynchronised
Eighty-three minutes into the film, a bullet hole suddenly appears on a steel cable car right
behind Charlie as she ducks bullets with Grant. Charlie looks behind her, apparently reacting
to the sound of the bullet hitting the car - but there is no sound whatsoever.
Filming Locations
Buttermilk Country, Inyo National Forest - 351 Pacu Lane, Bishop, California, USA
Cerro Gordo, California, USA
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway, Durango, Colorado, USA
Durango, Colorado, USA
Silverton, Colorado, USA