West of the Pecos (1945)

Director:

Edward Killy

Writers:

Zane Grey (novel)
Norman Houston (writer)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

Heading west for his health, Colonel Lambeth takes his daughter Rill along. Lost on the desert they are saved by Pecos and Chito...

Plot Keywords:

Remake | Based On Novel

Cast

Robert Mitchum	...	Pecos Smith
Barbara Hale	...	Rill Lambeth
Richard Martin	...	Chito Rafferty
Thurston Hall	...	Colonel Lambeth
Rita Corday	...	Suzanne, Rill's French Maid
Russell Hopton	...	Jeff Slinger
Bill Williams	...	Tex Evans - stage guard
Bruce Edwards	...	Clyde Corbin
Harry Woods	...	Brad Sawtelle
Perc Launders	...	Sam Sawtelle
Bryant Washburn	...	Doc Howard
Philip Morris	...	U.S. Marshal
Martin Garralaga	...	Don Manuel
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Anderson	...	Gambler (uncredited)
Sammy Blum	...	Gambler (uncredited)
Italia DeNubila	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Jack Gargan	...	Croupier (uncredited)
Edmund Glover	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Carmen Grenada	...	Spanish Girl (uncredited)
Herman Hack	...	Gambler (uncredited)
Carl Kent	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Ethan Laidlaw	...	Vigilante Henchman (uncredited)
Allan Lee	...	Four-Up Driver (uncredited)
Cliff Parkinson	...	Vigilante (uncredited)
Joe Rickson	...	Joe (uncredited)
Jason Robards Sr.	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Ariel Sherry	...	Mexican Girl (uncredited)
Virginia Wave	...	Mexican Girl (uncredited)
Larry Wheat	...	Butler (uncredited)
Henry Wills	...	Vigilante (uncredited)

Directed by
Edward Killy

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Zane Grey		novel
Norman Houston		writer

Produced by
Sid Rogell	....	executive producer
Herman Schlom	....	producer

Original Music by
Paul Sawtell

Cinematography by
Harry J. Wild

Film Editing by
Roland Gross

Art Direction by
Lucius O. Croxton		(as Lucius Croxton)
Albert S. D'Agostino

Set Decoration by
Darrell Silvera
William Stevens

Costume Design by
Renié		(gowns)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Harry Mancke	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Terry Kellum	....	sound re-recordist
John E. Tribby	....	sound

Stunts
Henry Wills	....	stunts (uncredited)

Music Department
C. Bakaleinikoff	....	musical director

Production Companies

• RKO Radio Pictures

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1945) (USA) (theatrical)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1951) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV)
• Artisan Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Comet Video (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Comet Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Runtime:

66 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Movie Connections:

Remake of West of the Pecos (1934)

Great fun

Superior B-Western with Bob Mitchum in his second starring film. Lots of action and plenty of plot as Barbara Hale, her father and their French maid relocate from Chicago to Texas, stumbling across Pecos Smith (Mitchum) as he exacts revenge on the crooked vigilantes who killed his best friend, then hides out, just trying to stay alive. Hale spends a good portion of the film cross-dressing, so if you've ever wanted to see Mitchum invite what he thinks is a teenage boy into his bed for a cuddle, then this is the film for you. Bob is laid back, compelling, sometimes cool, just a few months away from the first great characterisation of his career in The Story of G.I. Joe.

(3 out of 4)