The Hallelujah Trail (1965)

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

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

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:

Bill Williams died performing a stunt with a colleague during this shoot. The stunt called for Williams and another stuntman to guide a horse-drawn wagon toward a cliff. As the horses separated, both men were supposed to jump clear as the wagon continued over the cliff. Williams didn't manage to jump clear in time and died during the fall.

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:

Capt. Paul Slater: Protect both rears simultaneously!

Movie Connections:

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

Lighthearted fun in a Western guise

I saw the movie when I was a very young man (20's) and absolutely loved its spirit. It was great to see seasoned actors playing their roles broadly and for laughs. It is very unusual to see Burt Lancaster blustering this much and Lee Remick is a perfect foil for him. A young Martin Landau has obvious fun in the role of the Indian guide. The gem of casting was Donald Pleasence as the hilarious visionary who "sees" the alcoholic wagon train as it crosses the plains, giving the movie its name.