Powderkeg (1971) (TV)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Douglas Heyes

Writer:

Douglas Heyes (teleplay)

Release Date:

16 April 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Western

Plot:

Just before World War I, two adventurers are hired to bring back a hijacked train from Mexico.

Plot Keywords:

Railway | TV Series Pilot

Cast

Rod Taylor	...	Hank Bracket
Dennis Cole	...	Johnny Reach
Fernando Lamas	...	Chucho Morales
John McIntire	...	Cyrus Davenport
Luciana Paluzzi	...	Juanita Sierra-Perez
Michael Ansara	...	Paco Morales
Tisha Sterling	...	Beth Parkinson
Reni Santoni	...	Ricardo Sandoval
William Bryant	...	Maj. Bull Buckner
Melodie Johnson	...	Miss Baker
Joe De Santis
William Kerwin	...	Ben
Jay Novello
James Brown
Roy Jenson

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:11

Filming Locations:

Bonanza Creek Ranch - 15 Bonanza Creek Lane, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

Company:

Filmways Pictures

Trivia:

Released theatrically in the UK, as the supporting feature to Up the Chastity Belt (1971).

Movie Connections:

Followed by "Bearcats!" (1971)

Unusual action film, very well done, interesting premise

Powderkeg! was a movie filmed in 1971 starring the well known actor Rod Taylor, and Dennis Cole as two men living in the southwest just prior to WWl. It based around the premise that the pair had 'cleaned up' a couple of rough towns in self-defense, then other towns had come to them seeking help in doing the same for their communities. They had to get 'mercenary' about this and their fee was a blank check. "If you can put a price on it, you don't need 'em bad enough"! The two are contacted by a railroad magnate after one of his trains is hijacked, his best friend killed, and the friends daughter among the 73 people being held by the Morales gang, former revolutionaries turned bandits and murderers. The leader, Chuchu, (Fernando Lamas) has taken the hostages to be exchanged for his brother, being held in a small town jail after a raid by the gang. The plot then centers around Brackett and Reach (Taylor and Cole) devising a plan to seize the train and free the hostages, which they do cleverly and successfully. The movie served as the pilot for the show Bearcats!, which unfortunately, only lasted one season, mostly due to being up against the Flip Wilson show, well established and carrying high ratings. But for one memorable season, Taylor and Cole thrilled many a young lad and sometimes even the Dads as well, with an unusual, well done show with a very original premise, unlike so much of the drivel that 'graces' TV these days! My thanks to all involved in the show, I will never forget it.