The Highwayman (1951 film)

The Highwayman is a 1951 Cinecolor film based on the poem of the same name by Alfred Noyes.

The Highwayman
Official theatrical poster
Directed byLesley Selander
Produced byHal E. Chester
Jack Dietz
Written byJack DeWitt
Duncan Renaldo
Henry Blankfort
Based onThe Highwayman
by Alfred Noyes
StarringPhilip Friend
Wanda Hendrix
Narrated byBrian Aherne
Music byHerschel Burke Gilbert
CinematographyHarry Neumann
Distributed byMonogram Pictures
Release date
  • August 12, 1951 (1951-08-12)
Running time
82 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

The fairly straightforward love/betrayal/sacrifice theme of the Noyes poem is expanded to fill out the demands of an 82-minute-long film. The Highwayman himself is an aristocrat who leads a party of associates to hold up the well-to-do and distribute their takings to the needy. This campaign is broadened when they discover that innocents are being kidnapped and sold into slavery in the colonies. The finale however follows the poem more closely as the Highwayman is betrayed to the authorities, soldiers march to set an ambush, his lover Bess sacrifices herself to give warning and the hero is shot down on the highway as he gallops to take revenge.

Cast

Production

The film was based on a poem by Alfred Noyes which had been written in 1906. Film rights were owned by James Burkett who in 1946 sold them to Monogram Pictures. Monogram announced that Noyes would collaborate on the script with Jack De Witt and Renautt Duncan and the budget was to be a million dollars.[1] James Burkett would still produce.[2]

Noyes said the poem would be the last act, and that there would be a parallel storyline set in the present day about a woman who works at the tavern and has problems with her love life. Noyes wanted to do this to keep the tragic ending of the poem but also have a happy ending in the present day.[3]

Noyes arrived in Hollywood in April 1947 to inspect the script.[4] In July the film was officially put on the schedule for Monogram then also known as Allied Artists.[5] Burkett went on to buy the film rights to several other Noyes titles: Midnight Express, The Walking Shadows, Beyond the Desert, River of Stars and The Last Voyage.[6]

Filming was delayed. In April 1950 Allied announced they would likely film in June with Florence Marley and Rory Calhoun starring.[7] In July 1950 Louis Hayward said he would star in Dick Turpin's Ride based on the poem and a script by Robert Libot and Frank Burt with Harry Joe Brown to produce. Filming was to start in September.[8]

Filming continued to be pushed back. In January 1951 Allied said Hal Chester and Bernard Burton would produce and Charles Coburn star from a script by Henry Blankfort; filming would start on February 19 under the direction of Lesley Selander at the Motion Picture Center.[9] Wanda Hendrix then joined the cast.[10] Philip Friend's casting was announced shortly before rehearsals and filming started.[11]

Noyes wrote in his autobiography that he was pleasantly surprised by "the fact that in this picture, produced in Hollywood, the poem itself is used and followed with the most artistic care".[12] Released by Allied Artists, which acquired the rights to Noyes' poem, the film was released in the same year as Columbia Pictures' Dick Turpin's Ride/The Lady and the Bandit, also based on a poem by Noyes. Portions of the film were shot at Corriganville movie ranch.

Reception

The Los Angeles Times called it "competent but undistinguished."[13]

Notes
  1. Alfred Noyes Will Aid 'Highwayman' Project Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 1 Nov 1946: A3.
  2. MILLAND TO STAR IN PICTURE ABROAD: New York Times (2 Nov 1946: 23.
  3. Even the Solvent Poets Gravitate to Hollywood: Alfred Noyes, Creator of 'Highwayman,' Is Most Recent of Ballader Arrivals Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 24 Nov 1946: C1.
  4. Looking at Hollywood Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 8 Apr 1947: 18.
  5. MONOGRAM PLANS 48 FEATURE FILMS: New York Times 21 July 1947: 12.
  6. Five Noyes Sagas Set; Other Deals Simmering Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 10 Feb 1948: 19.
  7. Drama: 'Legal Bride,' Comedy, Set for McCambridge Los Angeles Times 22 Apr 1950: A8.
  8. MILESTONE NAMED TO DIRECT PICTURE: Signed by Fox for Work on 'Kangaroo,' to Be Made in Australia in the Fall By THOMAS F. BRADY Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES 25 July 1950: 24.
  9. Drama: Coburn Plays Sinister Politician; Constance Smith Stars With Power Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 27 Jan 1951: 11.
  10. Doris Day Will Play Straight Drama Parts: Looking at Hollywood..... Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 31 Jan 1951: a7.
  11. Drama: Philip Friend Will Star in 'Highwayman;' Wilde Prepares Scripts Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 10 Feb 1951: 11.
  12. Noyes, Alfred (1953). Two Worlds for Memory. Lippincott.
  13. Drama: Frank Fay Lady Killer; 'Highwayman' Dashing Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times15 Nov 1951: A13.
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