Carbine Williams (1952)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Richard Thorpe

Writers:

Art Cohn (screenplay)
Art Cohn (story)

Release Date:

May 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

This is my Story

Plot:

This is the story of David Marshall 'Marsh' Williams, the real life inventor of the world famous M-1 Carbine automatic riffle used in WWII...

Plot Keywords:

Chain Gang | Whipping Post | Deputy | Whipping | Deputy Sheriff

Cast

James Stewart	...	Marsh Williams
Jean Hagen	...	Maggie Williams
Wendell Corey	...	Capt. H.T. Peoples
Carl Benton Reid	...	Claude Williams
Paul Stewart	...	'Dutch' Kruger
Otto Hulett	...	Mobley (guard at chain-gang camp)
Rhys Williams	...	Redwick Karson
Herbert Heyes	...	Lionel Daniels
James Arness	...	Leon Williams
Porter Hall	...	Sam Markley
Fay Roope	...	Ed - District Attorney
Ralph Dumke	...	Andrew White (Williams' attorney)
Leif Erickson	...	Feder (prisoner at chain-gang camp)
Henry Corden	...	Bill Stockton
Frank Richards	...	Truex

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

James Stewart actively sought the lead role, despite being too old for it, because the film reflected his right-wing views.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Marsh tests his gun in prison, he loads three shells and fires four.

A Must See Movie

This is a great story about David Marshall Williams - an independent spirited man who rightfully or wrongfully gets accused of killing a law enforcement officer during a moonshine distillery raid and goes to prison. The twist is that he's not a career criminal but a strait forward man, and also an inventor who comes across wrong during the trial for speaking the event as he believes it, and gets the unfair blame for the death. Williams (Jimmy Stuart) is an honest man who says things as he believes it - which doesn't win him charm points with the prison warden, but has a principle he believes in. Some of his integrity shines through, and although seen as a trouble maker, he is entrusted to be in the machine shop of the prison. There he puts his mind to work and starts working on a new rifle design. During one altercation, he's thrown into solitary confinement where he uses the time to invent the new gas action loading mechanism for his rifle. By this time prison warden Capt. H.T. Peoples (Wendell Corey) is sympathetic with Williams and allows him to develop his idea. He even allows Williams to have time out of prison to spend with his wife. Marshall could have escaped during this time, but he returns to prison again showing his strait forward integrity. On the day Williams completes the design, to test fire the rifle, Capt. Peoples hands Williams the bullet - warden is giving his prisoner a bullet to fire a rifle ! The design works, and Williams applies for patent. Colt fire arms is interested in his design, and visits him in prison to license his design. The design becomes none other than the M1 rifle which became the staple fire arms during WW II for the U.S. military.

This is a great story told by great actors about a man who despite his odds achieved something no short of a miracle. It also tells a story about human heart, that there are good men who can be understanding, generous, and develop friendship despite situations they are placed under. James Stuart play the role of Carbine Williams character perfectly. An honest man of few words, but lives by a principle he believes in. He's an anti-hero of a sorts in this movie, but is my most favorite part he's ever played in a movie. Wendell Corey plays somewhat of a protective role to Williams who he understands is living life too honestly for his own good. Their muted but genuine friendship shines through in this film.

One of the few unknown classic of Hollywood. A marvelous movie to watch.