Colt .45 (1950)

Gun salesman Steve Farrell gets two of his new Colt .45 pistols stolen from him by ruthless killer Jason Brett but vows to recover them.

Director:

Edwin L. Marin

Writer:

Thomas W. Blackburn

Stars:

Randolph Scott, Ruth Roman, Zachary Scott

Cast

Cast overview:
Randolph Scott	...	Steve Farrell
Ruth Roman	...	Beth Donovan
Zachary Scott	...	Jason Brett
Lloyd Bridges	...	Paul Donovan
Alan Hale	...	Sheriff Harris
Ian MacDonald	...	Miller
Chief Thundercloud	...	Walking Bear

Storyline

Gun salesman Steve Farrell gets two of his new Colt .45 pistols stolen from him by ruthless killer Jason Brett and vows to recover them as Brett and his gang leave behind wake of robbery and murder throughout the territory. When Farrell recovers a stagecoach carrying gold and brings it back to town, he is made a deputy but unknown to him the sheriff is on league with the outlaws as is Paul and Beth Donovan, an apparently clean-cut young couple with ambitions for quick wealth. Although the town members are apathetic toward helping Steve, he gets plenty of assistance from Walking Bear, an Indian chief grateful that Steve saved his life.

---

Plot Keywords:

gun | gun salesman | salesman | sheriff | indian chief | 

---

Genres:

Western

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 May 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

Thundercloud

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

74 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ian MacDonald would make his greatest film impression two years later as the gang leader in "High Noon." In that film he was also named Miller. Ironically Lloyd Bridges co-stars in both.

---

Goofs

(at around 1 min) There is a shadow of a crew member with headphones, upper left above the doorway as Randolph Scott approaches.

---

Quotes

Steve Farrell: The first Colt repeating pistols in this territory, Sheriff. The finest guns ever made. Here's law and order in six-finger doses. Yes, sir, easy to load and as durable as your mother-in-law.

---

Connections

Spin-off Colt .45 (1957)

User Reviews

"Law And Order In Six Finger Doses"

The Colt.45 is what Randolph Scott is selling, the latest item in weaponry. While selling a pair to a sheriff who's ordered them, prisoner Zachary Scott breaks free and kills the sheriff and steals the weapons Randy was about to sell. After convincing the townsfolk that he wasn't in on the jailbreak and the killing of their sheriff, Randy takes his display models and goes after Zach.

This is an average B western from Warner Brothers and it really turns on the character that Zachary Scott is playing. Zach is a really loathsome punk, but a clever one who realizes that until these weapons come into widespread use, those that possess them can be king of the mountain. He also thinks fast on his feet and avoids capture and turns the tables on Randy on more than one occasion.

Colt.45 coming out at the time that Broken Arrow and Devil's Doorway were running benefited from those far better westerns in terms of influence. Part of Zach's scheme is to frame some innocent Indians for a stagecoach robbery that Randy foils. Because of that Randy makes friends with Chief Thundercloud and his whole tribe. Colt.45 takes its place in the history of the big screen western with a more sympathetic attitude towards Indians.

Scott's leading lady is Ruth Roman who is certainly pretty and capable, but her part is rather ill defined. She's the wife of one of Zach's henchmen Lloyd Bridges another real punk, but not as clever. She switches loyalties, but really doesn't help much.

In the cast in one of his last roles for Warner Brothers where he was a contract player for about 15 years and almost exclusively appeared in films for that studio is Alan Hale. He plays another sheriff, a corrupt one.

Colt.45 is a fast paced, but badly edited film, still fans of both Scotts, Randolph and Zachary should like it.