Along Came Jones (1945)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Stuart Heisler

Writers:

Nunnally Johnson (written by)
Alan Le May (novel)

Release Date:

19 July 1945 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Western

Tagline:

IT'S THE WEST AT ITS BEST! WITH ROOTIN'...TOOTIN'...SHOOTIN' COOPER! (original ad - all caps)

Plot:

Riding into Payneville, easy-going cowboy Melody Jones is mistaken by the townsfolk for notorious gunman Monte Jarrad...

Plot Keywords:

Posse | Ranch | Saloon Owner | Shoot Out | Jealousy

Cast

Gary Cooper	...	Melody Jones
Loretta Young	...	Cherry de Longpre
William Demarest	...	George Fury
Dan Duryea	...	Monte Jarrad
Frank Sully	...	Avery de Longpre
Don Costello	...	Leo Gledhill
Walter Sande	...	Ira Waggoner
Russell Simpson	...	Pop de Longpre
Arthur Loft	...	Sheriff
Willard Robertson	...	Luke Packard
Ray Teal	...	Kriendler
Lane Chandler	...	Boone

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

Australia:G (TV rating) | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | USA:Approved (PCA #10665) | Norway:16 | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (2005)

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Cinema Artists

Trivia:

Loretta Young was pregnant with her son Christopher Lewis during shooting and was told by her doctor to take it easy because of all the horseback riding she had to do during filming.

Quotes:

George Fury: You always want to shoot them in their right eye. It spoils their aim.

Movie Connections:

Featured in John Wayne Made Me Cry: Our Western Heros (2002) (TV)

Soundtrack:

On Top of Old Smoky

A sly satire of the very genre in which it resides

Even fans of Gary Cooper may not see the artistry in his performance, but that's not what makes this film special. Nunnally Johnson's script is the thing, and it's a pretty lightweight thing, with subtle repetition, satire, and tongue firmly in cheek. Filmed like a western b-movie, played as a self-aware western b-movie, with all the cliches and set pieces intact, including indoor back projection riding scenes and more than one "stick 'em up" scenario. Your first tip-off should be the wanted poster for "Monte Jarrad, often in the company of Uncle Roscoe something." I can't imagine that Cooper and Demerest (as his sidekick) didn't have a grand time playing against the stereotype established by John Wayne and Walter Brennan. Don't take it seriously, just enjoy....