Southwest Passage
Southwest Passage is a 1954 American Pathécolor western film directed by Ray Nazarro and starring Joanne Dru, Rod Cameron and John Ireland, who are determined to make a unique trek across the west, using camels as his beasts of burden. The picture was originally released in 3-D.
Southwest Passage | |
---|---|
Directed by | Ray Nazarro |
Produced by | Edward Small |
Written by | Harry Essex |
Starring | Rod Cameron Joanne Dru John Ireland |
Music by | Arthur Lange Emil Newman |
Cinematography | Sam Leavitt |
Edited by | Grant Whytock |
Production company | Edward Small Productions |
Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date | April 1, 1954 |
Running time | 75 min. |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Plot summary
With $20,000 in stolen gold, Clint McDonald, his girl Lilly and wounded brother Jeb head for the hills, just ahead of a posse. Lilly goes to town to find a doctor for Jeb, then returns with the best she can find, Dr. Stanton, a drunken veterinarian.
Clint becomes aware of a camel-led caravan being led by Edward Fitzpatrick Beale and decides to join it, taking Dr. Stanton's medical kit and pretending to be him. Lilly rides up later, claiming to be separated from a wagon train, but Jeb dies from his injuries.
Mule skinner Matt Caroll is at odds with Clint from the beginning, becoming attracted to Lilly and suspicious of Clint's skill as a doctor. After scout Tall Tale is bitten by a gila monster and needs a limb amputated, Clint's true identity is revealed and Beale makes him leave. Carroll follows, after the gold, but Clint kills him. Clint repents to Beale by leading the caravan to water and helping fend off attacking Apache braves. He reunites with Lilly and vows to return the gold.
Cast
- Rod Cameron – Edward Fitzgerald Beale
- Joanne Dru – Lilly
- John Ireland – Clint McDonald
- John Dehner – Matt Carroll
- Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams – Tall Tale
- Darryl Hickman – Jeb
- Stuart Randall – Lt. Owens
- Mark Hanna – Hi Jolly
- Douglas Fowley – Toad Ellis
- Morris Ankrum – Doc Stanton
Notes
- Navajo Indians from Utah played Apaches in the film. John Ireland and Joanne Dru were husband and wife when this film was made.[2]
- This is one of only two films for which the original 3-D elements are lost, the other being Top Banana (1954).
- The film was originally known as Camel Corps.[3]
References
- D'Arc, James V. (2010). When Hollywood came to town: a history of moviemaking in Utah (1st ed.). Layton, Utah: Gibbs Smith. ISBN 9781423605874.
- http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=20986&category=Notes
- "MOVIELAND BRIEFS". Los Angeles Times. June 29, 1953. p. B6.
External links