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ACTOR
Errol FlynnPatrice WymoreScott ForbesGuinn 'Big Boy' Williams
DIRECTOR
William Keighley
SYNOPSICS
Rocky Mountain (1950) is a English movie. William Keighley has directed this movie. Errol Flynn,Patrice Wymore,Scott Forbes,Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams are the starring of this movie. It was released in 1950. Rocky Mountain (1950) is considered one of the best Action,Adventure,Western movie in India and around the world.
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Rocky Mountain (1950) Reviews
Underrated Western.
Warner Bros. ROCKY MOUNTAIN (1950) is something of an underrated western! Based on a real incident in 1865 and from a short story by Alan LeMay the screenplay was written by LeMay and Winston Miller. William Jacobs was producer and the solid direction was by William Keighley. Errol Flynn stars as a Confederate officer (his first time to do so) who with a small contingent of seven men travel 2000 miles to California to rendezvous with an outlaw who has promised to provide 500 men to join with them in the south's faltering struggle. But things don't quite work out as planned when after they rescue a girl from a stagecoach being attacked by marauding Indians they then have to contend with the girl's fiancé (a Union cavalry officer) leading a troop out to search for her. Following a series of complications Flynn - sacrificing himself and his men - divert the attacking Indians away so that the girl can be saved. The picture ends with Flynn and his meager army taking on and being overwhelmed by a large band of hostiles. The final chase and battle with the Indians in a blind canyon is marvellously executed and is the highlight of the movie! "They've seen our backs - let's show them our faces" declares Flynn. Then, greatly outnumbered, and assuming cavalry formation the valiant eight charge the advancing Indian horde only to be wiped out one by one. It is a powerful, spine-tingling and unforgettable sequence! Although somewhat subdued Flynn gives a good and likable performance! This was to be his last appearance in a western and it was a good one to finish with. The female lead was taken by newcomer Patrice Wymore (in her second film) who replaced Lauren Bacall. Three weeks after the film wrapped Miss Wymore would become the third Mrs. Flynn. The film is fully fleshed out with splendid characters! Excellent is Scott Forbes as the formidable Union officer and the girl's fiancé, Slim Pickens in his first movie, Sheb Wooley, the likable Chubby Johnson as the Stage driver and Howard Petrie as the dubious and distrustful outlaw Cole Smith. Beautifully photographed in Monochrome by ace cinematographer Ted McCord ("Treasure Of The Sierra Madre"/ "The Hanging Tree") in amazing location sites in and around Gallup, New Mexico the picture also boasts a brilliant score by the great Max Steiner. His music for the Indian sequences is nothing short of breathtaking especially for the stagecoach chase scene. And not forgetting his clever and utterly engaging music for the dog of one of Flynn's men, scored for Piccolo, Flute and strings, as it races after its owner who is at full gallop on horseback. So all round a fine enjoyable movie that is nice to have on a DVD of exceptional picture quality. Extras include a commentary by one Thomas McNulty, the usual dispensable Warner Night At The Movies material but it does have trailers for "Rocky Mountain" and surprise...surprise the elusive and yet to be released (will it ever?) "The Breaking Point". "Rocky Mountain" is also part of a four movie western box set of Flynn which also contains "San Antonio", "Montana" and the excellent "Virginia City". Nice one - Warner Home Video but where oh where is "Silver River"??
An Underrated Movie
Errol Flynn was outstanding in this film. An underrated actor, if given the right material, Flynn gave very affecting performances. This is one of those movies. It is realistic and reminiscent of "Little Big Horn", starring John Ireland and Lloyd Bridges. As a confederate officer fighting a lost war, Errol and his companions save stranded stage coach travelers from Indians on the warpath. He has a sympathetic role in which he showed heroic characteristics without going "over the top". I wish this movie were available in video and hope that the Western Channel will show it. I heartily recommend this film with a rating of 9.
Horsemen, oh horsemen!
I have to agree with mvescovi in an earlier review. One aspect of "Rocky Mountain" which is seldom mentioned is the remarkable horsemanship of the actors involved. For the most part these guys were real cowboys. Among them - Dickie Jones, a trick rider almost from the time he could walk; an amazing athlete. Slim Pickens - a rodeo performer in his youth and a rodeo clown. (Today those clowns prefer to be called "bull fighters" since they risk their lives daily to protect both amateur and pro bull riders). Sheb Wooley - a rodeo rider as a teen; one of the best in his home state of Oklahoma. He gets to show a bit of his expertise in the opening moments of "High Noon" in his role as Ben Miller. As another reviewer mentioned, this was the first feature film for both Pickens and Wooley. And let's not leave out Errol Flynn. That fellow could certainly ride with the best, as evidenced in this film and many others, and who looked better on a horse than Flynn? My fondest memories of this film as a child were those which included the dog and Dickie Jones' character, Buck Wheat. I always was a sucker for horses and dogs. All the characters were well-defined. You knew these men, their good points and their bad and you formed an opinion about each. You cared about what happened to them. How often can you say that about characters in one of today's movies? The photography was striking and I found the characters' tattered clothing remarkably realistic for a change - more authentic than many films. These men were, after all, weary travelers, soldiers on the losing side of a civil war - their country (the CSA) existing on what little remained to them. As to the romance part - to me there really wasn't one! Flynn's character is respectful and admiring of the lady and although there is certainly chemistry between them, there is no silly romance to mar the storyline or make it seem insipid. Flynn met his future wife, Patrice Wymore, on this set. They married after the film. Finally, the story itself is not overly sentimental. The soldiers ultimately behave as soldiers, doing their duty, going to their end bravely and with honor despite any previous differences. The ending shot, with the Union cavalryman riding to the top of the butte to install the Confederate Flag, was moving and again, the honorable thing to do. A brave man is a brave man no matter which side he fights upon. This is a fine film, a fine western and a fitting end to Flynn's career in oaters. What must we fans do to get "Rocky Mountain" out on video and DVD? It is an honor long overdue.
One of Flynn's Best
"For it being 1950, I was stunned to find so many real and honest performances. There was none of that obnoxious "Studio Acting" where everyone is chewing scenery and pretending to be their character." This was the comment of a previous reviewer. Anyone who is "stunned" to find good acting in a 1950 movie has probably not seen many movies from that period. As for "chewing scenery", I wonder if this person has ever paid attention when "method" icons like Dean, Brando, Cobb, Palance, and Penn are on screen. It's often a miracle there's any scenery left uneaten to finish the movie with! "Rocky Mountain" is one of Flynn's better films (of many good ones), and as always, this underrated actor is real and natural. The movie is also of interest as the debut of noted character actor Slim Pickens. The story is gritty and dark, and the scenery and photography are spectacular. The ending is quite moving. This is a movie worth seeing.
Unique Aspects of This Film
Errol Flynn brings a world-weary look and an understated performance to this William Keighley directed Western. The film features several gifted horsemen Dickie Jones, Buzz Henry, Slim Pickens, Sheb Wooley and the legendary Yakima Canutt. It was the first film for both Pickens and Wooley who both became journeymen character actors. It is also interesting to see Errol Flynn and Patrice Wymore (Mrs. Errol Flynn) work together in their only pairing on screen. The presence of Flynn's carousing companion Guinn "Big Boy" Williams also puts Flynn at ease in this role. Rocky Mountain blends a Civil War chapter, rampaging Indians and a love triangle all in a solitary location shoot. One of the last black & white Westerns, it holds up well more than 50 years after it was filmed.