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Warner Bros. Pictures
Not part of a collection.
A mighty, memorable new adventure hurtling out of the heroic vastness of Colorado Territory.
After escaping from jail, outlaw Wes McQueen is convinced by his old partner in crime to do one last heist.
John Chard
Jul 12, 2015 · via TMDB
Territorial Doom. Colorado Territory is directed by Raoul Walsh and adapted to screenplay by Edmund H. North and John Twist from the novel "High Sierra" written by W.R. Burnett. It stars Joel McCrea, Virginia Mayo, Dorothy Malone and Henry Hull. Music is by David Buttolph and cinematography by Sidney Hickox. Raoul Walsh remakes his own High Sierra from 1941 but supplants it into a Western genre setting - with tremendous results. McCrea plays outlaw Wes McQueen who springs from prison and vows to go straight, but with a price on his head he is coerced into one last railroad robbery. If he can escape the law then he can make a go of it as a new man, with a new name, and comforted by a new found love of a good woman, Colorado Carson (Mayo). Can he escape the law and those who would sell him out for money? A remake of a classic film noir, Colorado Territory is itself classic film noir. Whilst not reaching the dizzying star heights of Bogart's 41 version, this is a film of great strengths. Thematically it's noir gold dust, the great Walsh not pandering to anyone and ensuring the dark edges of Burnett's novel play out on screen - including the shattering finale. The photography is grade "A", both in chiaroscuro textures and sumptuous location framings. Cast can't be faulted either, McCrea a genuine horseman is firmly at home in a Western setting, Mayo and Malone positively light and sex up the screen, while classy performer Hull lends weighty support. High end Western staples are adhered to, with robbery actions, fights, stunts, villainous betrayals and back stabbers, these marry up to the noirish cement of a man unable to escape his fate, his past weighing heavy on his shoulders, all ensuring there's constantly a doom laden feel permeating the story. Rarely mentioned when talk turns to film noir Westerns, but it should be since it's one of the best. 9/10
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
TCM
Joel McCrea
Wes McQueen
Virginia Mayo
Colorado Carson
Dorothy Malone
Julie Ann Winslow
Henry Hull
Fred Winslow
John Archer
Reno Blake
James Mitchell
Duke Harris
Morris Ankrum
United States Marshal
Basil Ruysdael
Dave Rickard ('The Old Man')
Frank Puglia
Brother Tomas
Ian Wolfe
Homer Wallace
Harry Woods
Pluthner
Houseley Stevenson
Prospector
Oliver Blake
Wells Fargo Agent (uncredited)
Monte Blue
U.S. Marshal (uncredited)
Ben Corbett
Posse Member (uncredited)
Carl Harbaugh
Brakeman (uncredited)
Charles Horvath
Train Guard (uncredited)
Fred Kelsey
Train Engineer (uncredited)
Victor Kilian
Missouri Sheriff (uncredited)
Paul Kruger
Deputy (uncredited)
James Mitchum
Child (uncredited)
Artie Ortego
Deputy Marshal (uncredited)
Joe Phillips
Townsman (uncredited)
Maudie Prickett
Mrs. Wallace (uncredited)
Harry Strang
Stage Guard (uncredited)
Jock Mahoney
Stunt Double
Charles Horvath
Stunts
Raoul Walsh
Director
Anthony Veiller
Producer
Sidney Cutner
Orchestrator
W.R. Burnett
Novel
Edmund H. North
Screenplay
John Twist
Screenplay
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The Stranglers - Live '78, SF
1978
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1944
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Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
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2008 · 14 wins
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1978 · 13 wins
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2000 · 12 wins
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1981 · 11 wins
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