Night Passage (1957)

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  • NIGHT PASSAGE


    DIRECTED BY JAMES NEILSON
    PRODUCED BY ARRON ROSENBERG
    UNIVERSAL INTERNATIONAL PICTURES



    For continuity, all discussion
    please post here:-
    James Stewart- Night Passage


    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.
    Share this
    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.


    Memorable Quotes


    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

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 4 times, last by ethanedwards ().

  • Night Passage (1957) is a Western starring
    James Stewart and Audie Murphy
    This film is reminiscent of the popular western collaborations between Stewart
    and director Anthony Mann.
    This is largely because the project was slated to be their
    sixth collaboration. Mann backed out of the project before production due to other obligations
    and a disagreement over the casting of Audie Murphy.
    Aaron Rosenberg, who produced many of the Stewart-Mann collaborations,
    stayed on as producer with new director James Neilson.



    Dimitri Tiomkin scored the film, and co-wrote the songs "Follow the River"
    and "You Can't Get Far Without a Railroad" with Ned Washington,
    which were performed by James Stewart himself.
    The film also offered Stewart the rare opportunity to play the accordion,
    an instrument he had played since childhood.
    The film was the first to utilize the Technirama process by Technicolor.
    This process helped make the blue skies crisper and brighten the autumn
    footage photographed by cinematographer William H. Daniels.
    The railroad scenes were filmed at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge
    Railroad in Durango, Colorado, using Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad
    K-28 Class steam locomotive #476 which still operates in excursion service
    today.
    Though not as memorable as other Stewart-Mann films,
    Night Passage was a commercial success upon its release
    and has become a staple of cable television.


    Many of Duke's 'Pals' to look out for namely
    Dan Duryea ,Brandon De Wilde, Jay C. Flippen
    Jack Elam, Paul Fix, Olive Carey, Chuck Roberson.


    User Review

    Quote

    One of my favorites
    6 January 2007 | by kannahspapa (United States) – See all my reviews


    I have watched this movie many, many times and I find it enjoyable every time. I have found this to be one of my favorite Audie Murphy vehicles. The role Audie played as the Utica Kid is quite refreshing, I'm sure that not all the badmen were void of personalities. The witty and sarcastic dialogue between Utica and Whitey shows how the leadership of the gang was always open ended. Throughout the movie the end is always assured in that good will prevail, you still have the hope that Grant will convince Lee to return to his father teachings. I believe that anyone watching this movie will find it to be very enjoyable and entertaining.

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 2 times, last by ethanedwards ().