The Secret of Convict Lake (1951)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Michael Gordon

Writers:

Anna Hunger (story)
Jack Pollexfen (story)

Release Date:

8 September 1951 (Sweden)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

Jim Canfield, convicted of a crime he did not commit, escapes a Nevada prison with several hardened criminals...

Plot Keywords:

Revenge | Escaped Convict | Beautiful Woman

Cast

Glenn Ford	...	Jim Canfield
Gene Tierney	...	Marcia Stoddard
Ethel Barrymore	...	Granny
Zachary Scott	...	Johnny Greer
Ann Dvorak	...	Rachel Shaeffer
Barbara Bates	...	Barbara Purcell
Cyril Cusack	...	Edward 'Limey' Cockerell
Richard Hylton	...	Clyde Maxwell
Helen Westcott	...	Susan Haggerty
Jeanette Nolan	...	Harriet Purcell
Ruth Donnelly	...	Mary
Harry Carter	...	Rudy Shaeffer

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Effective Western with a fine cast

In "The Secret of Convict Lake" danger looms in the winter of the 1870's when escaped prisoners hide out at a colony consisting mostly of women. There's enough drama to hold your interest as the ladies unleash some of their own frustrations as they contend with some slimey characters. Of course the "secret" is another matter which I won't reveal. The exceptional cast includes Glenn Ford, Gene Tierney, Ethel Barrymore, Zachary Scott, Ann Dvorak, Jeanette Nolan, Helen Westcott and Ruth Donnelly. There's also an impressive performance from Robert Hylton an actor with potential who should have had a bigger career in Hollywood.