Hannah Lee: An American Primitive (1953)

Directors:

Lee Garmes
John Ireland

Writers:

MacKinlay Kantor (novel)
Alford Van Ronkel (writer)

Release Date:

July 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

She brought DANGER, DEATH and DESIRE to the west!

Plot:

Professional killer Bus Crow is hired by cattlemen to eliminate squatters. When Marshal Sam Rochelle is sent to investigate, saloon owner Hallie becomes a reluctant witness. |

Plot Keywords:

Reference To Matthew 7 6 | Reference To The Sermon On The Mount | Reference To The Book Of Matthew | 3 Dimensional | Based On Novel

Cast

Macdonald Carey	...	Bus Crow
Joanne Dru	...	Hannah Lee (Hallie McLaird)
John Ireland	...	Marshal Sam Rochelle
Tom Powers	...	Sheriff
Ralph Dumke	...	Alesworth
Stuart Randall	...	Jeff Montgomery
Frank Ferguson	...	John Britton
Don Haggerty	...	Bill Crashaw
Peter Ireland	...	Willie Stiver
Tristram Coffin	...	Paulson, Bartender
Alex Pope	...	Gare Stiver
Kay Riehl	...	Mrs. Bainbridge
Grace Lee Whitney	...	Mrs. Stiver (as Ruth Whitney)
Dean Cromer	...	Charlie Bevan
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alan Frazier	...	Bart, Hotel Desk Clerk (scenes deleted)
Harold J. Kennedy	...	Bainbridge

Also Known As:

Outlaw Territory (USA) (reissue title)

Runtime:

75 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Jack Broder Productions Inc.

Trivia:

In his autobiography, "The Days of My Life", actor Macdonald Carey writes candidly of his work on this film: "John [John Ireland] and I were not happy with the ending in the script. Both of us, heavy drinkers at the time, sat up late at night... drinking and re-writing the conclusion."

Quotes:

Bus Crow: When I was a kid, I killed gophers for money. Then I killed Indians and Spaniards for money. Now I just kill for money.

A fine Drama: and a good western too!

Despite the post-production problems this fine western drama incurred, it remains one of the best westerns of the 50s. Actually, the ORIGINAL 3D title was "Hannah LEE, an American Primitive." Later in 1954, Realart re-released it as "Outlaw Territory" and most often when shown on TV, it was under the title "Hannah Lee." The story is from Mackinlay Kantor's fine book, "Wicked Water" which was based on the life of Tom Horn. Dru, Ireland, and Carey turn out fine performances in a western tale told via flashback, as an old man feeds pigeons on a park bench. Unfortunately, the 3D process used was poor, and the color image was blurred when released flat. TV cut much of the original picture to fit time slots, and rarely has the entire movie been shown. It features a great title song, that ironicly is still available by Johnny Western on CD. If they ever show this one again, be sure to see it.