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The Man from Colorado

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The Man from Colorado
Theatrical release poster
Directed byHenry Levin
Screenplay byRobert Andrews
Ben Maddow
Story byBorden Chase
Produced byJules Schermer
StarringGlenn Ford
William Holden
CinematographyWilliam Snyder
Edited byCharles Nelson
Music byGeorge Duning
Color processTechnicolor
Production
company
Columbia Pictures
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • December 1948 (1948-12)
Running time
98 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1 million[1]
Box office$2 million[2]

The Man from Colorado is a 1948 American Western film directed by Henry Levin, produced by Jules Schermer for Columbia Pictures, and starring Glenn Ford as a Union officer who becomes addicted to killing during the American Civil War, William Holden as his best friend, and Ellen Drew as their common love interest. Robert Andrews and Ben Maddow based the screenplay on a story by Borden Chase. Although Ford received top billing as the mentally ill villain, Holden's role as the sympathetic hero is slightly larger.

Levin replaced Charles Vidor during filming.[3]

Plot

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Union Colonel Owen Devereaux (Glenn Ford) orders his regiment to fire on a detachment of Confederate soldiers, even though he (and only he) has seen that they are signaling their surrender with a white flag. Immediately after the battle, the soldiers learn the war has ended. As they celebrate, Sergeant Jericho Howard (James Millican) drinks while on duty, and Devereaux has him arrested. Later, the mayor announces Devereaux's appointment as federal judge for the region. He proposes to Caroline Emmett (Ellen Drew), who agrees to the marriage.

Afterwards, a veteran of the Confederate detachment confronts Devereaux about the white flag. Devereaux disarms him and then shoots him several times, even though the man has already been subdued. Devereaux's best friend, Del Stewart (William Holden), witnesses the act. Based on the rebel soldier's anger and apparent veracity, Del concludes Devereaux must have seen a white flag. He further surmises the war has unhinged the new judge's mind. Nevertheless, Del agrees to serve as Devereaux's marshal. Devereaux's first big case as judge involves the taking over of mines from individual soldiers once they marched off to war. They want their mines back, but businessman Ed Carter argues that according to law, the mines are rightfully his. Devereaux upholds Carter's claim.

Led by the insubordinate Jericho Howard, a contingent of ex-soldiers and miners pull off a series of robberies designed to cripple Carter's mining venture. Devereaux threatens to hang Jericho's younger brother Johnny (Jerome Courtland), based on circumstantial evidence, even though Johnny is not part of his brother's gang. After warning Devereaux not to hang Johnny, Del persuades Jericho to turn himself in. But when Devereaux hangs Johnny, Stewart resigns as marshal in disgust and joins Jericho's gang. Meanwhile, Devereaux's unstable judgment finally convinces the people to alert Colorado's territorial governor. The story finally climaxes in a confrontation between Devereaux and Jericho. They both die when a wall from a burning building falls on them. In the final scene, Del boards a stage for Washington, D.C. to plead on behalf of the dispossessed miners.

Cast

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "109-Million Techni Sked". Variety. February 18, 1948. p. 14.
  2. ^ "Top Grossers of 1949". Variety. January 4, 1950. p. 59.
  3. ^ Brady, Thomas F. (March 22, 1947). "METRO TO DO FILM OF RUSSIAN NOVEL: Robert Taylor Van Heflin Are Named by Studio for Roles in 'Brothers Karamazov'". The New York Times. p. 10.
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