In Colorado territory, outlaw Wes McQueen escapes jail to pull a railroad robbery but, upon meeting pretty settler Julie Ann, he wonders about going straight. Western remake of High Sierra with Joel McCrea taking over the Humphrey Bogart role.
Similar titles
Reviews
This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place
Excellent, Without a doubt!!
best movie i've ever seen.
A story that's too fascinating to pass by...
Directed by Raoul Walsh, based on the W.R. Burnett novel High Sierra, this remake of the 1941 film, with a screenplay co-written by Edmund H. North (Patton (1970)), was made into a slightly above average Western starring Joel McCrea. The cast also includes Virginia Mayo, Dorothy Malone, Henry Hull, James Mitchell, Morris Ankrum, and Ian Wolfe, among others.McCrea plays the outlaw with a price on his head that escapes from prison and vows to go straight. Unfortunately, his path leads him to his old partner (Basil Ruysdael), and his new gang (John Archer, Mitchell, and Harry Woods), who convinces him to try one last railroad heist to set him up for life. Shortly after his escape, McCrea's character had met another man (Hull) and his attractive daughter (a brunette Malone) who were heading west also, when he saves them from a stagecoach robbery. Hull's character was trying to get his daughter away from an impossible relationship while hoping to find success farming the barren landscape. McCrea's character is attracted to her, and hopes to return to his farming roots (and her) after his last score.Mayo plays (the title character?) Colorado Carson, a tough, attractive young woman from a harsh upbringing that finds herself among the gang. McCrea's character initially insists that Colorado will lead to nothing but trouble before he decides to protect her from the others. Wolfe plays the railroad employee who's the gang's inside track to the heist; he double crosses them by telling the Marshal (Ankrum; Monte Blue appears uncredited as another) of their plans, for the reward money on McCrea. Frank Puglia plays Brother Tomas, a monk (?) who happens to be in the deserted town that the gang calls their hideout.McCrea and Mayo outsmart the others during the heist, escaping with the loot while leaving them to be captured. They return to Ruysdael's to find he's been killed by Woods, who wounds McCrea before McCrea kills him. They then use Hull's place to hideout, temporarily, while Mayo removes the bullet from McCrea's shoulder. Malone almost gives them away when the Marshal et al arrive, but they're able to escape, again temporarily, before the Marshal corners McCrea, who'd left Mayo behind, at some cliff-side ruins. She arrives to inadvertently lure him to his death, having been tricked into it by the Marshal. She is shot dead as well and the two die holding hands.
This is probably Walsh's best movie ever, partly due to his wonderful guidance of the actors, partly due to the stunning screenplay full of excellent dialogs.The story get's a lot of power by neglecting nearly all western clichés: The "good" guy who we suppose to be innocent, is a bandit. He wants to change for good, but it just takes few moments and some money to get him back into the gang.When he seems to fall in love with the "good girl" we - and he - learn little by little, the girl he fell for is just a substitute for his dead fiancé.On the other hand the "good girl" (brunette) from the east (in other movies always protected by her father and finally taming the bad guy) is in the end just selling out while her father tries to convince her, the broken hero is the right man for her.The "bad girl" (blonde) on the other side is neither sloppy nor a fallen angel dreaming of house and home. She knows where she belongs to and finally makes her stand. And the hero picks not the good girl, but her, telling her "You are not aiming high".The criminal mastermind behind the hold-up is a likable, mortally ill old man, drinking himself to death while his job. And despite his obvious knowledge of human nature, he is deceived by one of his partners.One of the big traitors is a decent, nice old man, that fools the hero (and the audience) easily. And the "dumb" marshal turns out to be more witty than all others.Then there are the (real!) Indians with their chanting and rituals adding some dark, mysterious atmosphere to the story, always giving the hint: this land is old Indian land and the white people are just moving over its surface like ants without ever revealing its secrets.Finally the whole thing is finished with a brilliant musical score that is, like most of the other features of the movie, far ahead of its time!
I have never really bothered with the Western genre in film. Just like country and western music (as typified by those solo recording artists who are all rubbish and that includes the trendier singers such as the depressingly monotone Johnny Cash) it has always left me cold. For some reason, I do like Dolly Parton, though. However, I just can't seem to get enough of them at the moment and I think it is because I have been picking good ones to watch. Well, my trend for seeking out quality Westerns will continue after seeing this film.The story is essentially as follows - Joel McCrea (Wes) is sprung from jail to pull one last train robbery for mastermind Basil Ruysdael (Dave). Joel holes up in a deserted town with his gang that consists of thuggish John Archer (Reno), slimy intellectual James Mitchell (Duke) and initially not wanted saloon girl Virginia Mayo (Colorado). They bide their time until it's time to steal some loot. But, there are plenty of double crosses to come.Comparisons have regularly been made to the film High Sierra (1941), of which this is a re-make set as a Western. An easy comparison - this film is clearly the better offering in terms of action and scenery. It also has a much more credible thread with love interest Dorothy Malone (Julie Ann) and her father Henry Hull (Fred) taking the roles of Joan Leslie and Henry Travis who added nothing but boring sentimentality in the original. Yawn. And there is no blasted dog written into the script for poor plot contrivances. There is an overall higher satisfaction level with this film.The cast do well with a special mention for the 2 lead females. Virginia Mayo and Dorothy Malone both do justice to their roles and may not seem as they first appear. They also appeared together in "Flaxy Martin" in that year but with a role reversal on that occasion. In this film, they have some scenes together that are fraught with tension and there are many other memorable moments. A case in point is a shot of two men hanging from a train - certainly didn't expect that! Quite disturbing. This film also has great dialogue and captivating scenery and it makes for entertaining viewing with a happy ending. Of sorts.
JOEL McCREA is the main reason for liking "Colorado Territory"--and the script is full of quotable lines that have a smart sting to them. But this remake takes the Humphrey Bogart/Ida Lupino/Joan Leslie original and transposes it to a vast western landscape with McCrea as a gunman on horseback planning his last heist with a corrupt gang of thieves.It's hampered by some odd miscasting. VIRGINIA MAYO wears heavy make-up as a girl with Pueblo blood who falls instantly in love with McCrea. She stands by her man, even when she learns that he's found a new sweetheart--DOROTHY MALONE in a terribly underwritten role that paints her as a good/bad girl whose loyalty is questionable when tempted by money.It's an okay western, routine in many ways, but fans of McCrea should enjoy his performance. JOHN ARCHER and JAMES MITCHELL are convincing as "heavies" who get their comeuppance in the end.Summing up: A less than honorable remake of a more gripping original.