The Painted Hills (1951)

User Rating:

2.6/10   

Director:

Harold F. Kress

Writers:

Alexander Hull (novel)
True Boardman (writer)

Release Date:

4 May 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Western

Plot:

A Lassie movie. After years of prospecting, Jonathan finally strikes gold. He returns to town only to...

Plot Keywords:

Lassie | Gold | Poison | Fall From Height | Brook

Cast

Pal	...	Shep (as Lassie)
Paul Kelly	...	Jonathan Harvey
Bruce Cowling	...	Lin Taylor
Gary Gray	...	Tommy Blake
Art Smith	...	Pilot Pete
Ann Doran	...	Martha Blake
Chief Yowlachie	...	Bald Eagle
Andrea Virginia Lester	...	Mita
Brown Jug Reynolds	...	Red Wing

Also Known As:

Lassie's Adventures in the Goldrush (USA)
Lassie's Christmas Story (USA) (DVD title)

Runtime:

68 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG (video rating) (2005) | UK:U (original rating) | USA:G

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

In October 1951, MGM was distributing this film on the drive-in theater circuit on a double bill with The Great Caruso (1951) starring Mario Lanza.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Painted Hills (#6.10)" (1993)

...or, Revenge of Lassie!

Who wouldn't love a flick in which Lassie, compelled by burning hatred, tracks down the man who killed his beloved owner? It's not quite as bleak as all that, (if it had taken place in a city, it would have been the sole entry in the "Lassie-noir" genre) but it IS a startlingly dark work, for a 50's family-movie audience. As for the acting, it's pretty much what you would expect...but during those final scenes, where Lassie faces the killer...aren't you glad it's not YOU facing that implacable, growling, fang-faced beast?