Gunfighters of the Northwest
| Gunfighters of the Northwest | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Spencer Gordon Bennet (as Spencer G. Bennet) Charles S. Gould |
| Screenplay by | Arthur Hoerl Royal K. Cole George H. Plympton |
| Story by | Arthur Hoerl Royal K. Cole George H. Plympton |
| Produced by | Sam Katzman |
| Starring | Jock Mahoney Clayton Moore Phyllis Coates Don C. Harvey |
| Cinematography | William P. Whitley (as William Whitley) |
| Edited by | Earl Turner |
| Color process | Black and white |
Production company | Sam Katzman Productions |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 315 minutes (15 episodes) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Gunfighters of the Northwest is a 1954 American Adventure Western Serial film directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet and Charles S. Gould and starring Jock Mahoney, Clayton Moore, Phyllis Coates, Don C. Harvey.
Plot
White Horse Rebels, under the command of a mystery villain known only as The Leader, attempt to create an independent "White Horse Republic" in Canada's north west. Funded by gold from the Marrow Mine, they attack Canadian settlements in the area. The North-West Mounted Police, represented primarily by hero Sgt. Ward and his sidekick Constable Nevin are, work to top the rebels and discover The Leader's real identity. An added complication comes in the form of First Nations, Blackfeet driven into Canada from the United States, who attack both sides and whom the rebels attempt to use as scapegoats for their own attacks.
Production
The entire filming of Gunfighters of the Northwest took place outdoors at Big Bear Lake, California. Even a scene set in a cave was filmed outside with director Spencer Gordon Bennet setting up the lighting and a back grop to make it appear to be an internal shot.[1] During filming, the whole cast and crew all lived at a nearby hotel.[1]
The two heroic leads, Jock Mahoney and Clayton Moore, were injured during production. On the second day of shooting, Moore's horse backed and threw him. He landed on his back and was knocked unconscious. An assistant director took him to a doctor in Big Bear, who said he would be "laid up for a little while", after which Moore visited a chiropractor in town, who was able to help him. He was not able to perform any rising scenes for a few days but could act in all the dramatic scenes with no problems.[1] Mahoney was hurt on the same day, injuring a metatarsal in a fight scene, but he was able to walk and continue filming the next day.[1]
Moore had been the Lone Ranger in the television series until being replaced by John Hart in 1952. Hart was at that time dating female lead Phyllis Coates and visited the set. When Moore was injured, the production needed a double to stand in for him in a riding scene and Hart volunteered. Hart ended up doubling for Moore in several scenes in the serial.[1]
Cast
- Jock Mahoney as Sgt. Joe Ward (as Jack Mahoney)
- Clayton Moore as Constable Bram Nevin
- Phyllis Coates as Rita Carville
- Don C. Harvey as Otis Green (as Don Harvey)
- Marshall Reed as Gale Lynch
- Rodd Redwing as Bear Tooth
- Lyle Talbot as Inspector Wheeler
- Tommy Farrell as Constable Arch Perry - Ch's 1-2
- Terry Frost as Wildfoot
- Lee Roberts as Arnold Reed - Ch's 1-2
- Joseph Allen as Fletcher Stone (as Joe Allen Jr.)
- Gregg Barton as Hank Bridger
- Chief Yowlachie as Chief Running Elk
- Pierce Lyden as Dakota
Chapter titles
- A Trap for the Mounties
- Indian War Drums
- Between Two Fires
- Midnight Raiders
- Running the Gauntlet
- Mounties at Bay
- Plunge of Peril
- Killer at Large
- The Fighting Mounties
- The Sergeant Gets His Man
- The Fugitive Escapes
- Stolen Gold
- Perils of the Mounted Police
- Surprise Attack
- Trail's End
Source:[2]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Moore, Clayton (1998). I Was That Masked Man. Taylor Trade Publishing. pp. 138–140. ISBN 9781461625155.
- ^ Cline, William C. (1984). "Filmography". In the Nick of Time. McFarland & Company, Inc. pp. 254–255. ISBN 0-7864-0471-X.