The Far Country (1954)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Anthony Mann

Writers:

Borden Chase (story)
Borden Chase (screenplay)

Release Date:

12 February 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Romance | Western

Tagline:

RENEE...the innocent...and the untamed...BEN...the gambler...and the loser...GANNON...the law...and the noose...RUBE...the friendless...and the afraid.

Plot:

A self-minded adventurer (Jeff Webster) locks horns with a crooked lawman (Mr. Gannon) while driving cattle to Dawson.

Plot Keywords:

Cattle | Gold | Klondike | Gold Rush | Corrupt Judge

Cast

James Stewart	...	Jeff Webster
Ruth Roman	...	Ronda Castle (owner, Skagway Castle & Dawson Castle saloons)
Corinne Calvet	...	Renee Vallon
Walter Brennan	...	Ben Tatum (Jeff's partner)
John McIntire	...	Skagway Sheriff Gannon
Jay C. Flippen	...	Dawson Marshal Rube Morris
Harry Morgan	...	Ketchum (Castle driver / miner) (as Henry Morgan)
Steve Brodie	...	Ives (Castle driver / miner)
Connie Gilchrist	...	Hominy (co-owner, Dawson Hash House)
Robert J. Wilke	...	Madden (Gannon gunman) (as Robert Wilke)
Chubby Johnson	...	Dusty (Dawson miner)
Royal Dano	...	Luke (Dawson miner)
Jack Elam	...	Frank Newberry (Gannon's deputy)
Kathleen Freeman	...	Grits (co-owner, Dawson Hash House)
Connie Van	...	Molasses (co-owner, Dawson Hash House)

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Iceland:12 | UK:U | West Germany:12 (nf) | South Korea:12 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #18975) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

One of James Stewart's favorite stories of his film career concerned his horse, Pie, a sorrel stallion whom Stewart called, "One of the best co-stars I ever had." Pie appeared as Stewart's horse in 17 Westerns, and the actor developed a strong personal bond with the horse. Pie was very intelligent, Stewart recalled, and would often "act for the cameras when they were rolling. He was a ham of a horse." When shooting the climax of "The Far Country," the script called for Stewart's horse to walk down a dark street alone, with no rider in the saddle, to fool the bad guys who were waiting to ambush Stewart. Assistant Director John Sherwood asked Stewart if Pie would be able to do the scene. Stewart replied, "I'll talk to him." Just before the cameras rolled, Stewart took Pie aside and whispered to the horse for several minutes, giving him instructions for the scene. When Stewart let the horse go, Pie walked perfectly down the middle of the street, doing the scene in one take. When Pie died in 1970, Stewart arranged to have the horse buried at his California ranch.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The film takes place in 1896. Ronda Castle contracts Jeff Webster to drive her caravan until Dawson, Canada. Nevertheless, that Canadian miner town-site was named Dawson only in January 1897.

Quotes:

Skagway Sheriff Gannon: Now it becomes my duty to carry out the sentence which I have imposed on these men for killing and stealing within the territory under my jurisdiction. However, I want it strictly understood that there will be no undo shooting or cheering or drunken talk when I pull that lever on account it would offend the dignity of the occasion.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#32.5)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

PRETTY LITTLE PRIMROSE

Incredible Cinematography!

Classic drama/action western with incredible cinematography that is well ahead of it's time(1954). The production is very good and you can tell that it was done with pride and love.Unique peek into the American NORTHT WEST pioneers is very educational and entertaining.This movie is very under rated because most people do not like to see the reality that many "lawmen" during this particular time and place were very crooked/corrupt much like most developing countries today.The action sequences could have been more realistic though but still,this movie really covers most of the essentials.Not for an audience who wants only pure testoterone type westerns for this movie is more for those who have a sense of history and philosophy.......