Slaughter Trail (1951)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Irving Allen

Writer:

Sid Kuller (writer)

Release Date:

15 October 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

Three outlaws rob the stage and then flee. When their horses give out they murder some Indians to get fresh ones...

Cast

Brian Donlevy	...	Capt. Dempster
Gig Young	...	Ike Vaughn aka Murray
Virginia Grey	...	Lorabelle Larkin
Andy Devine	...	Sgt. Macintosh
Robert Hutton	...	Lt. Morgan
Terry Gilkyson	...	Singalong
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Howard Da Silva	...	Capt. Dempster (replaced by Brian Donlevy) (scenes deleted)

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Cinecolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Corriganville, Ray Corrigan Ranch, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company:

Irving Allen Productions

Trivia:

As reported by Robert Osborne during a TCM airing of the film, Howard Da Silva was originally cast in this film and performed the role in its entirety. However, just before it was distributed, he was denounced as a communist sympathizer in the McCarthy hearings. Producer Howard Hughes (a staunch anti-Communist) ordered all of Da Silva's scenes to be re-shot using Brian Donlevy. So the film was overhauled to incorporate Donlevy and he became the leading man.

Quotes:

Woman Dancer: You know, I can look into your eyes and see you have led a gay, romantic life. If I'm not too personal, what do you do for a living?
Rufus Black: I sell coffins!

Soundtrack:

Hoofbeat Serenade

decent western in the classic sense of the word

Once in a while Turner Classic Movies will air a movie that most people aren't familiar with. Such was the case with "Slaughter Trail." Good on-location photography, a fast-moving script, characters worth caring about, and a look at life in the wild west all make the grade. Add an interesting color palate-- Cinecolor-- with its subtle tones, light-years from Technicolor, and you've got an sense of open-air realism to it all. The use of the narrative ballad, a la "High Noon", makes it well worth a look. TCM's Robert Osborne said that Brian Donlevy's part was initially filmed with Howard da Silva in the role, but da Silva got caught up in the Hollywood Blacklist and producer Howard Hughes, being the staunch anti-Communist he was, re-shot all of da Silva's scenes with Donlevy prior to its release. Interesting tidbit, not at all visible in the final product.