California Conquest (1952)

The period is the 1840's and California is part of Mexico. Many of the citizens wish to become part of the United States. Other countries are also interested and the Russians have ... See full summary »

Director:

Lew Landers

Writer:

Robert E. Kent (original story and screenplay)

Stars:

Cornel Wilde, Teresa Wright, Alfonso Bedoya

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Cornel Wilde	...	Don Arturo Bordega
Teresa Wright	...	Julie Lawrence
Alfonso Bedoya	...	José Martínez
Lisa Ferraday	...	Helena de Gagarine
Eugene Iglesias	...	Ernesto Brios
John Dehner	...	Fredo Brios
Ivan Lebedeff	...	Alexander Rotcheff
Tito Renaldo	...	Don Bernardo Mirana
Renzo Cesana	...	Fray Lindos
Baynes Barron	...	Igna'cio
Rico Alaniz	...	Pedro
Billy Wilkerson	...	Fernando (as William P. Wilkerson)
Edward Colmans	...	Juan Junipero
Alex Montoya	...	Juan

Storyline

The period is the 1840's and California is part of Mexico. Many of the citizens wish to become part of the United States. Other countries are also interested and the Russians have established bases in the northern part of the state. To further their hold they have stolen guns and Don Arturo Bordega, a leader of those wanting statehood, is out to recover them.

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Plot Keywords:

russian | california | settler | freedom | american | 

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Genres:

Adventure | History | Romance | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 July 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

Californie en flammes

Filming Locations:

Kennedy Meadows, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Esskay Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

The Russian Fort Ross is shown in a desert landscape with Indian teepees. Fort Ross is located in Northern California on the Sonoma County Coast surrounded by forest. The Indians in this area did not use teepees.

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Connections

Referenced in Éden (2011)

User Reviews

"Historical" Piece - rule over California

California Conquest tells the story of the battle for rule of what will eventually become a state, when gold is found here later. Teresa Wright does a good job as the daughter of a settler who is determined to get her married off to famed explorer John Fremont. As someone else has pointed out, what a mishmash of crappy accents that come and go, and about half the actors just mumble for some reason to the point of distraction. Cornel Wilde is Arturo Bodega (Bordega ?), fighting off the interloping Russians, but he sounds like a European. We get the usual amount of swordfights, gunfights, and oat burning horse chases. Some great outdoor photography, presumably California. Several of the scenes are very dark, and its hard to see what is occurring; not sure if its just bad lighting, or film degradation. There is the usual climactic battle of good versus evil at the very end. Entertaining, but Teresa Wright is the only shining star in this one.

Directed by Lew Landers, who had a long history in Hollywood; acc to wikipedia, he acted in two shorts around 1914, when he would have been about 12. He disappears for 15 years (war? working?) Then he pops up as crew on one film, and disappears again for about five years. Then starts a long career as director in 1934, and had been directing for almost 20 years when this film was made.