Posts from ethanedwards in thread „Silver Lode (1954)“

Silver Lode is a 1954 American Technicolor Western film directed by
Allan Dwan starring John Payne, Lizabeth Scott and Dan Duryea.



User Review

John Payne, accused of murder and robbery,
finds the whole town turned against him and pursuing him around town
27 June 2012 | by msroz (United States)

Quote from msr

Dan Duryea, with badge and warrant, comes to Silver Lode on John Payne's wedding day. His marriage to fetching and loyal Lizabeth Scott, who never looked better, is rudely interrupted by vengeful Duryea who doesn't act like a lawman. At first the townspeople are supportive of Payne

but as events snowball they end up pursuing him all over the place.

This is a fast-moving, athletic, exciting western with overtones of High Noon. Cinematographer John Alton has some wonderful shots. Director Allan Dwan packs lots of action into its 77 minutes.

Dolores Moran, the helpful saloon girl, has plenty of punchy lines and delivers them with panache.

Folks, they don't make them like this anymore, and they never will again. You can create new works of art, but you cannot possibly bring together the kinds of acting, writing, directing and all the rest that go into a movie like this. The supporting cast, for example, includes Morris Ankrum, Stuart Whitmore, Emile Meyer, suave Edgar Barrier, Harry Carey, Jr., and Robert Warwick.

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Plot Summary
Dan Ballard, a respected citizen in the western town of Silver Lode,
has his wedding interrupted by four men led by Fred McCarty, an old acquaintance who,
as a US Marshal, arrests Ballard for the murder of his brother and the theft of $20,000.
Ballard seeks to stall McCarty while tracking down evidence that will prove his innocence:
but the townspeople's loyalty to him gradually begins to waver under McCarty's accusations.
Written by David Levene

Cast
John Payne ... Dan Ballard
Lizabeth Scott ... Rose Evans
Dan Duryea ... Fred McCarty
Dolores Moran ... Dolly
Emile Meyer ... Sheriff Wooley
Robert Warwick ... Judge Cranston
John Hudson ... Michael 'Mitch' Evans
Harry Carey Jr. ... Johnson
Alan Hale Jr. ... Kirk
Stuart Whitman ... Wicker
Frank Sully ... Paul Herbert, Telegrapher
Morris Ankrum ... Zachary Evans
Hugh Sanders ... Reverend Field
Florence Auer ... Mrs. Elmwood
and more...

Directed
Allan Dwan

Writing Credits
Karen DeWolf ... (story) (screenplay)
Produced
Benedict Bogeaus ... producer

Music
Louis Forbes
Howard Jackson ... (uncredited)

Cinematography
John Alton

Trivia
During the McCarthyism, political messages are usually cloaked in metaphors:
for example, the name of the villain is Fred McCarty.

Included among the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", edited by Steven Schneider.

Goofs
Continuity
John Payne is seen throughout the film wearing black cowboy boots,
but when his stunt double leaps aboard a wagon,
the double is seen to wear low shoes with white socks.

Revealing mistakes
When Ballard hides near a haystack outside the Evans house,
his shadow and the shadows of his pursuers fall on to the painted backdrop,
revealing it as canvas and not a real landscape.

Watch the Movie

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