Hellfire (1949 film)
| Hellfire | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | R. G. Springsteen |
| Written by | Dorrell McGowan Stuart E. McGowan |
| Produced by | William J. O'Sullivan |
| Starring | Wild Bill Elliott Marie Windsor Forrest Tucker Jim Davis |
| Cinematography | Jack A. Marta |
| Edited by | Tony Martinelli |
| Music by | R. Dale Butts |
Production company | Elliott-McGowan Productions |
| Distributed by | Republic Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Hellfire is a 1949 American Trucolor Western film directed by R. G. Springsteen starring Wild Bill Elliott, Marie Windsor, Forrest Tucker and Jim Davis.[1][2]
Plot
[edit]Drifting gambler Zeb Smith promises a dying preacher who saved his life that he'll fulfill the preacher's lifelong goal to build a church. He needs money and a $5,000 reward is out for lady outlaw Doll Brown, who has murdered Lew Stoner, her husband. Stoner's brothers Gyp, Red and Dusty are after her as well, as is Zeb's law-abiding pal, Marshal Bucky McLean.[3]
Doll mocks his newfound faith and knocks Zeb unconscious after their first meeting. She rides to Cheyenne to look for her little sister, Jane Carson. The sheriff there, Duffy, tries to arrest Doll, and soon Bucky rides into town, too.
On the run, Zeb and Doll hide out in a cabin. By the time Bucky rides up, Doll's changed her whole look and he doesn't recognize her. Bucky confides to Zeb that he is married to Jane and would like to see Doll dead so no one will ever know Jane's dark family secret, that her sister is a notorious outlaw.
After being captured and roughed up by the Stoner boys, an angry Zeb is deputized by Duffy and goes after them. He arrests Doll, but she gets the drop on him in jail, locking him up. Doll is shot twice by the Stoners, who are about to shoot her again when Zeb manages to do away with all three. In his arms, Doll finally comes to appreciate Zeb's faith in God.
Cast
[edit]- Wild Bill Elliott as Zeb Smith (as William Elliott)[4]
- Marie Windsor as Doll Brown, also known as Mary Carson[5]
- Forrest Tucker as Bucky McLean
- Jim Davis as Gyp Stoner
- H. B. Warner as Brother Joseph
- Paul Fix as Dusty Stoner
- Grant Withers as Sheriff Martin
- Emory Parnell as Sheriff Duffy
- Esther Howard as Birdie
- Jody Gilbert as Full Moon
- Louis Faust as Red Stoner (as Louis R. Faust)
- Harry Woods as Lew Stoner
- Denver Pyle as Rex
- Trevor Bardette as Wilson
- Dewey Robinson as Cheyenne Bartender
- Paula Hill as Rusty[6]
References
[edit]- ^ Simmon, Scott (June 30, 2003). The Invention of the Western Film: A Cultural History of the Genre's First Half Century. Cambridge University Press. p. 367. ISBN 978-0-521-55581-4. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
- ^ Blottner, Gene (December 22, 2011). Columbia Pictures Movie Series, 1926-1955: The Harry Cohn Years. McFarland. p. 328. ISBN 978-0-7864-8672-4. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
- ^ Maltin, Leonard (September 29, 2015). Turner Classic Movies Presents Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide: From the Silent Era Through 1965: Third Edition. Penguin. p. 286. ISBN 978-0-698-19729-9. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
- ^ Mayer, Geoff; McDonnell, Brian (June 30, 2007). Encyclopedia of Film Noir. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 443. ISBN 978-0-313-03866-2. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
- ^ Bawden, James; Miller, Ron (April 1, 2016). Conversations with Classic Film Stars: Interviews from Hollywood’s Golden Era. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0-8131-6711-4.
- ^ Pitts, Michael R. (January 4, 2013). Western Movies: A Guide to 5,105 Feature Films, 2d ed. McFarland. p. 149. ISBN 978-0-7864-6372-5. Retrieved September 23, 2024.