Posts from ethanedwards in thread „Fort Worth (1951)“
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Fort Worth is a 1951 western film directed by
Edwin L. Marin and starring Randolph Scott.
It is Marin's final directing work, as he died two months before the release.User Review
Well worth the time and the price
26 November 2006 | by clore_2 (New York, New York)Quote from chWarner Brothers had a thing for "city westerns" ever since the success of DODGE CITY in 1939. In its wake followed VIRGINIA CITY, SAN ANTONIO, DALLAS, Carson CITY and this 1951 tale, the last film of director Edwin L. Marin. Marin and star Randolph Scott had previously worked on many several films together, including some oaters for RKO as well as Christmas EVE, Scott's last non-western. Here they were doing a follow-up to their successful COLT 45 for Warners in 1950.
In this one, Scott stars as a reformed gunman, now "shooting" lead type from a printing press rather than bullets from a six shooter. Not intending to set up shop in his old home town, when he comes across a nearly vanquished Ft. Worth, and spurred by the death of a child which was the result of a cattle stampede caused by the errant shot of of member of the Clevenger Gang, Scott opts to use the power of the press to bring settlers back to the city and achieve justice for the slain boy. The death of a child is a plot turn that goes back to the first in the series, DODGE CITY. In that film the child was played by Dickie Jones, here, twelve years later, Jones plays Scott's reporter Luther Wick, soon he'd be on his way into the hearts of millions of kids in the series THE RANGE RIDER, followed by BUFFALO BILL, JR.
David Brian co-stars as a man banking his future on the future of Fort Worth by buying up options on properties abandoned by those terrorized by the Clevenger gang. But as Scott's mentor wonders, if Brian cares so much for the town, why is he letting its population dwindle from 5000 to less than 1000? Could it be to be able to secure more options, is he in cahoots with Clevenger? Plot twists cause he and Scott to take on an alliance at times, while at others, they're inches away from gunning each other down, and rivals for the hand of Phyllis Thaxter.
Clevenger is played by Ray Teal, known to most as Sheriff Coffee from BONANZA. Often villainous in these things, he outdoes himself here by occasionally being quite charming in his delivery - perhaps his glee at being given more dialog than he usually gets and more screen time also. Another fine performance is given by Emerson Treacy as Ben Garvin, Scott's partner in the Fort Worth Star and his teacher in ways of the press. Usually uncredited in scores of films, he makes the most of his screen time.
The DVD offers glorious Technicolor, the detail right down to Scott's pearl-handled pistols is a sight to behold. The film is packaged with two other Randolph Scott features, COLT 45 and TALL MAN RIDING. and at 15 bucks list price, they're one of the great bargains a Scott fan is likely to find.
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FORT WORTH
DIRECTED BY EDWIN L. MARIN
MUSIC BY DAVID BUTTOLPH
WARNER BROS.
Photo courtesy of lasbugas
INFORMATION FROM IMDbPlot Summary
Southern veteran Ned Britt returns home to Fort Worth after the Civil War with his mentor, newspaperman Ben Garvin, along with his young apprentice, in hopes of building the town into a modern metropolis. However, the area is terrorized by the ruthless Gabe Clevenger and his gang of hired guns. Britt wonders whose side his old friend Blair Lunsford is on. Lunsford has used the unrest to buy up parcels of land on the cheap and hopes to profit from this speculation after the territory is cleaned up and ultimately become governor. Britt sees through his friend's ambition, and they are alternately allies and antagonists. Britt is also distracted by girl-next-door Flora Talbott and and seductive Amy Brooks.
Written by duke1029Cast
Randolph Scott ... Ned Britt
David Brian ... Blair Lunsford
Phyllis Thaxter ... Flora Talbot
Helena Carter ... Amy Brooks
Dickie Jones ... Luther Wicks (as Dick Jones)
Ray Teal ... Gabe Clevenger
Michael Tolan ... Mort Springer (as Lawrence Tolan)
Paul Picerni ... Joe Castro
Emerson Treacy ... Ben Garvin
Bob Steele ... Shorty
Walter Sande ... Deputy Waller
Chubby Johnson ... Sheriff
Charles Meredith ... Sam, Railroad Backer (uncredited)
Sheb Wooley ...Outrider (uncredited)
and many more...Directed
Edwin L. MarinWriting Credits
John TwistProduced
Anthony Veiller ... producer Music by
David Buttolph Cinematography by
Sidney Hickox ... director of photographyTrivia
Three train scenes are taken directly from Dodge City (1939) - the race with the horse-driven stagecoach along the tracks; the burning carriage and subsequent escape on horseback; the triumphal arrival of the train in town, right at the end.
Filming Locations
Dijon Street, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
Iverson Ranch - 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA
Warner Ranch, Calabasas, California, USAWatch the Movie
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