Pittsburgh (1942)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Lewis Seiler

Writers:

Kenneth Gamet (screenplay)
George Owen (story)
(more)

Release Date:

11 December 1942 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

BIG! BRAWNY! BOLD! (1948 reissue poster)

Plot:

Charles 'Pittsburgh' Markham rides roughshod over his friends, his lovers, and his ideals in his trek...

Plot Keywords:

Steel | Beautiful Woman

Cast

Marlene Dietrich	...	Josie 'Hunky' Winters
Randolph Scott	...	John 'Cash' Evans
John Wayne	...	Charles 'Pittsburgh' Markham / Charles Ellis
Frank Craven	...	J.M. 'Doc' Powers
Louise Allbritton	...	Shannon Prentiss (Markham)
Shemp Howard	...	Shorty (the tailor)
Thomas Gomez	...	Joe Malneck (miners union president)
Ludwig Stössel	...	Dr. Grazlich (Doc Powers' partner)
Samuel S. Hinds	...	Morgan Prestiss (president, Prentiss Steel)
Paul Fix	...	Burnside (mine operator)
William Haade	...	Johnny (miner)
Charles Coleman	...	Mike (Markham's Butler)
Nestor Paiva	...	Barney, Cafe Proprietor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charles Arnt	...	Building site laborer (uncredited)
Lois Austin	...	Bit (uncredited)
Don Barclay	...	Drunk (uncredited)
Robert Barron	...	Mine Foreman (uncredited)
Brooks Benedict	...	Mr. Cooper, Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Ted Billings	...	Miner / Fight Extra (uncredited)
Wade Boteler	...	Mine superintendent (uncredited)
Hobart Cavanaugh	...	Derelict (uncredited)
Jack Chefe	...	Barber (uncredited)
James Conaty	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Harry Cording	...	Miner (uncredited)
Victor Cox	...	Sign Painter (uncredited)
Hal Craig	...	Mr. Carney, Accountant (uncredited)
Grace Cunard	...	Bit (uncredited)
Sayre Dearing	...	Dance Extra (uncredited)
John Dilson	...	Wilson, Partner in Colliery (uncredited)
Ed Emerson	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Wedding Reception Guest (uncredited)
Douglas Fowley	...	Mort Frawley (Josie's escort) (uncredited)
Jack Gardner	...	Clerk (uncredited)
Jack Gargan	...	Officer at Ceremony (uncredited)
Gus Glassmire	...	Chemist (uncredited)
William Gould	...	Burns (production manager) (uncredited)
Eddie Hall	...	Photographer at war rally (uncredited)
Chuck Hamilton	...	Fight Extra (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Scientist (uncredited)
Winifred Harris	...	Bit (uncredited)
Edward Keane	...	Headwaiter (uncredited)
Joe Kirk	...	Nightclub Extra (uncredited)
Ethan Laidlaw	...	Man Outside Theatre (uncredited)
Nolan Leary	...	Smith, Accountant (uncredited)
Kay Linaker	...	Sdecretary (uncredited)
Frank Marlowe	...	Bit (uncredited)
Alphonse Martell	...	Carlos (uncredited)
Johnny Marvin	...	Jones (uncredited)
Larry McGrath	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Mira McKinney	...	Tilda (uncredited)
Paul McVey	...	Thornton (uncredited)
Irving Mitchell	...	Bit (uncredited)
Sandra Morgan	...	Bit (uncredited)
Frances Morris	...	Secretary (uncredited)
Edmund Mortimer	...	Mr. Simons, Wedding Reception Guest (uncredited)
Broderick O'Farrell	...	Doorman (uncredited)
Bob Perry	...	Referee (uncredited)
Lorin Raker	...	Milgraine, Tailor (uncredited)
Bob Reeves	...	Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Cyril Ring	...	Mr. Wilcox (uncredited)
William Ruhl	...	Stretcher Bearer (uncredited)
Virginia Sale	...	Mrs. Higgins (uncredited)
Paul Scott	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Harry Seymour	...	Vaudeville MC (uncredited)
John Sheehan	...	Bill (uncredited)
Charles Sherlock	...	Chauffeur (uncredited)
Jack C. Smith	...	Officer O'Toole (uncredited)
Tom Steele	...	Brawler (uncredited)
Sammy Stein	...	Killer Kane (prizefighter) (uncredited)
Charles Sullivan	...	Miner (uncredited)
Ben Taggart	...	Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Frankie Van	...	Attendant (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	...	Brawler (uncredited)
Ray Walker	...	Sutcliffe, Wise-guy reporter (uncredited)
Anthony Warde	...	Kane's Fight Attendant (uncredited)
Phil Warren	...	Party Guest (uncredited)

Directed by
Lewis Seiler

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Kenneth Gamet		screenplay
George Owen		story
Tom Reed		original story and screenplay
John Twist		additional dialogue

Produced by
Charles K. Feldman	....	executive producer
Robert Fellows	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Charles Previn
Samuel Lerner		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Robert De Grasse

Film Editing by
Paul Landres

Art Direction by
John B. Goodman

Set Decoration by
Russell A. Gausman
Ira Webb

Costume Design by
Vera West

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles S. Gould	....	assistant director (as Charles Gould)

Sound Department
Bernard B. Brown	....	sound director
Paul Neal	....	technician

Special Effects by
John P. Fulton	....	special effects

Stunts
Bud Geary	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Fred Graham	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Eddie Parker	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Gil Perkins	....	stunts (uncredited)
Allen Pomeroy	....	stunts (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Dann Cahn	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Hans J. Salter	....	musical director (as H. J. Salter)
Sam Perry	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Frank Skinner	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Other crew
Sid Davis	....	stand-in: John Wayne (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Charles K. Feldman Group (for)
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1942) (USA) (theatrical)
• General Film Distributors (GFD) (1942) (UK) (theatrical)
• Realart Pictures (1947) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Realart Pictures (1953) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (2000) (USA) (laserdisc)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Charles K. Feldman Group

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Although the bulk of the picture takes place in the 1920s, clothes and hair styles are strictly up-to-the-minute 1942, when the picture was made. Early in the film, when the participants are supposedly racing to a mine disaster in the Pittsburgh area circa 1920, stock footage of a chase through downtown Los Angeles circa 1942 is used.

A Western in the East

No doubt things were confusing at the onset of World War Two, especially with one American defeat after another, yet political confusion is no reason to move Dodge City to Pennsylvania and call it Pittsburgh. This movie is a warmed-over western, pure and simple. All the ingredients of a formula plot are incorporated, including the ambition, the fist fight and the rich "cowgirl." The themes of redemption for the good of the nation and cooperation in steel production define the conversion of steel plants during the war. The only real question is whether an overly ambitious industrialist (John Wayne) can be corralled for the benefit of the nation, of labour, and of the company itself. The acting is fairly stiff and the plot predictable. One expects more from the film, but it just doesn't happen. Redemption is a common salvation for overly selfish industrialist, but there is little that can redeem this movie--it seems to be a remake of a remake of a remake. For anyone who likes westerns, this movie is ideal. How often does one find a western in the East?