The Hallelujah Trail (1965)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

John Sturges

Writers:

William Gulick (novel)
John Gay (screenplay)

Release Date:

23 June 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Western

Tagline:

See How The West Was Fun!

Plot:

A wagon train heads for Denver with a cargo of whisky for the miners. Chaos ensues as the Temperance League...

Plot Keywords:

Sergeant | Whiskey | Native American | Beautiful Woman | Based On Novel

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Burt Lancaster	...	Col. Thaddeus Gearhart
Lee Remick	...	Cora Templeton Massingale
Jim Hutton	...	Capt. Paul Slater
Pamela Tiffin	...	Louise Gearhart
Donald Pleasence	...	'Oracle' Jones
Brian Keith	...	Frank Wallingham
Martin Landau	...	Chief Walks-Stooped-Over
John Anderson	...	Sgt. Buell
Tom Stern	...	Kevin O'Flaherty
Robert J. Wilke	...	Chief Five Barrels
Dub Taylor	...	Clayton Howell
Whit Bissell	...	Hobbs
Helen Kleeb	...	Henrietta
Val Avery	...	Denver bartender
Noam Pitlik	...	Interpreter

Also Known As:

John Sturges' The Hallelujah Trail (UK) (complete title) (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

165 min | 156 min (TCM print) | USA:146 min (Cinemax) | West Germany:134 min (cut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:PG (TV rating) | Norway:12 | West Germany:6 (nf) | USA:Approved (certificate #20607) | Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:11 | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Mirisch Corporation, The

Trivia:

Burt Lancaster was forced by United Artists to make four films for $150,000 a picture in the 1960s: The Young Savages (1961), Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), The Train (1964) and The Hallelujah Trail (1965) rather than his normal fee of $750,000, because of cost overruns at his production company, Hecht-Hill-Lancaster, for which he was personally responsible.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Cora Massingale is in her bath 3 rapid cuts show her with her arms outside the bath, then inside, then outside again.

Quotes:

Col. Thaddeus Gearhart: Give a woman an acorn and the next thing you know you're up to your rump in oak trees.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (#4.21)" (1991)

A Wonderful Movie Experience For People Who Don't Take Themselves Too Seriously

Unfortunately, the pleasure of enjoying this life-affirming romp through fantasy is greatly diminished without the large screen for which it was designed. The cast is spectacular and so is the music. The dialog is nonstop humor but the narration by John Dehner is even better. I can't think of anyone who could have delivered the lines with such self-parodying pomposity. The interaction between the characters played by Lancaster and Remick leaves one wondering why the two actors weren't teamed regularly. Male and Female have seldom been more accurately and understandingly portrayed. The treatment of the Indians will likely offend many today. Mel Brooks may be one of the few (perhaps the only) movie-makers since the 60's who would have taken such a risk. At the time, tolerance was "in" and conditioned hyper-sensitivity and the thought police weren't taken seriously. We get to see Jim Hutton in one of the few roles he could handle well. We are also given a chance to appreciate Pamela Tiffin as more than just the background for a bikini. I'm sure her decision not to pursue a film career more aggressively was a wise one for her but it was nevertheless our loss.