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Post by neferetus on Mar 29, 2008 13:14:20 GMT -5
John Wayne ... Rocklin Ella Raines ... Arleta 'Arly' Harolday Ward Bond ... 'Judge' Robert Garvey George 'Gabby' Hayes ... Dave Audrey Long ... Clara Cardell Elisabeth Risdon ... Miss Elizabeth Martin Donald Douglas ... Harolday (as Don Douglas) Paul Fix ... Bob Clews Russell Wade ... Clint Harolday Emory Parnell ... Sheriff Jackson Raymond Hatton ... Zeke Harry Woods ... George Clews rest of cast listed alphabetically: Erville Alderson ... Wells Fargo Clerk (uncredited) Walter Baldwin ... Stan (depot master) (uncredited) Hank Bell ... Hotel Clerk (uncredited) Clem Bevans ... Card game spectator (uncredited) Wheaton Chambers ... Ab Jenkins (uncredited) George Chandler ... Saddle Maker (uncredited) Victor Cox ... Townsman (uncredited) Frank Darien ... Train Station Master (uncredited) William Desmond ... Town Citizen (uncredited) Russell Hopton ... Wagon Driver (uncredited) Ben Johnson ... Townsman (uncredited) Cy Kendall ... Cap, Bartender (uncredited) Sam McDaniel ... Servant (uncredited) Robert McKenzie ... Doc Riding (uncredited) Frank Orth ... 'Shorty' Davis (uncredited) Frank Puglia ... Talo (uncredited) Russell Simpson ... Pat Foster (uncredited) Tom Smith ... Townsman (uncredited) Eddy Waller ... Santa Inez Depot Master (uncredited)
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Post by neferetus on Mar 29, 2008 13:45:53 GMT -5
This 1944 title is an overlooked gem in the John Wayne film collection. It combines a stellar cast with good writing and a murder mystery within a Western.
With a screenplay by Paul Fix (who also appears in the film) Tall In The Saddle stars John Wayne as a mysterious stranger named Rocklin who comes to town to work for one Red Cardell of the KC Ranch , only to find that his would-be boss has been recently murdered.
The KC Ranch, Duke soon finds, has been inherited by beautiful easterner Clara Cardell (Audrey Long). The sweet Clara is attracted to Duke and wants him to come work for her, but since her guardian (Elizabeth Risdon) is an abrasive, intolerant shrew, and he doesn't like the idea of working for a woman, he declines.
He gets hired by another prominent outfit, but as it turns out, this one is also run by a woman, Ella Rains. What a hottie and spitfire of a woman is Ella's Arly Harolday, a cattle queen who not only knows her business, but always gets what she wants.
Wayne/Rocklin's poking around to find out the truth about why Red Cardell was murdered makes him the target and enemy of many townsfolk, including the good/bad judge Robert Garvey. (Ward Bond).
You'll just have to go out and see this one to find out what happens next, but here's a bet that you will not be disappointed. Certain scenes in TALL IN THE SADDLE will stay with you for quite a long while. (And George "Gabby" Hayes had me laughing out loud more than once, I tell you!)
This film has a certain realism about it that many later Westerns lack. Costuming is true to period and not Beverly Hills taylored to suit each stars sense of taste. The actors all come across as indivdual characters, unlike many present day films where one Hollywood pretty boy, or girl looks and acts pretty much like the next. I really miss those days back when Westerns truly were king.
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Post by Greg C. on Mar 29, 2008 15:48:11 GMT -5
Haven't seen it yet.
BTW, is there an exact count of how many John Wayne movies Paul Fix appears in? Must be over a hundred...
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Post by neferetus on Mar 29, 2008 16:38:38 GMT -5
I hadn't seen it either, prior to today. Like last night's REAP THE WILD WIND, Turner Classic Movies has been showing a lot of the lesser circulated John Wayne movies lately.
# of John Wayne/Paul Fix movies? Yuh got me there, Pilgrim.
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Post by Greg C. on Mar 29, 2008 17:52:14 GMT -5
I'm gonna have to search his filmography. I'm really curious about these bit actors that played with him. Hank Worden is another...
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