The Barefoot Mailman (1951)

Director:

Earl McEvoy

Writers:

Theodore Pratt (novel), James Gunn,

Stars:

Robert Cummings, Terry Moore, Jerome Courtland

Cast

Cast overview:
Robert Cummings	...	Sylvanus Hurley
Terry Moore	...	Adie Titus
Jerome Courtland	...	Steven Pierton
John Russell	...	Theron
Will Geer	...	Dan Paget - Miami Mayor / Postmaster
Arthur Shields	...	Ben Titus
Trevor Bardette	...	Oat McCarty
Arthur Space	...	Piggot

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

con artist | post office | based on novel

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Taglines:

Meet Sylvanus! Con man... Gun man... Ladies man!

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 December 1951 (USA)

Also Known As:

Strandräuber in Florida

Filming Locations:

Naples, Florida, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Robert Cohn Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Supercinecolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

User Reviews

Palm trees, red sunsets, gator wrasslin', and Terry Moore covered in mud...

Theodore Pratt's book becomes somewhat uncertain comedy-drama-adventure taking place in 1890 Miami, with land owner/confidence man Robert Cummings spreading word amongst the residents that a railroad will soon be running through South Florida. Jerome Courtland is the mail courier for the U.S. government who doesn't buy Cummings' story, especially after both men begin vying for the affections of runaway teen Terry Moore. Initially fluff-headed nonsense turns serious by the second half, with murderous scavengers trying to halt the progress, and swampland alligators giving everyone the bite. Cummings, talking as fast as Robert Preston in "The Music Man", looks every inch the dapper scoundrel, yet the writing doesn't give him a whole lot to work with (the script is plot-heavy without ironing out the characters). The overlit, occasionally gloppy color photography isn't helped by sequences that change from location shoots to studio replicas in the blink of an eye, and the wavering tone is disconcerting, yet director Earl McEvoy manages to keep everyone's spirits up and the picture is seldom dull. **1/2 from ****