Hannah Lee: An American Primitive aka "Outlaw Territory" 1953
This 1953 western was originally filmed in colour and 3-D. It was later released to television as "Outlaw Territory" in black and white in flat 2-d format. The film stars, MacDonald Carey, John Ireland, Joanne Dru, Tom Powers, Frank Ferguson, Don Haggerty and Peter Ireland. The screenplay was written by MacKinlay Kantor from his own novel, "Wicked Water".
The story starts out in the town of Pearl City, Colorado at the end of the 1890's. Gun for hire MacDonald Carey hits town looking for work. As it so happens, a group of local big ranch owners are in need of someone like him. They are having problems with squatters and rustlers taking their land and cattle.
Carey is offered 600 dollars a body and is supplied with a list of names. He is told that he must give the people named a chance to leave on their own. Carey leaves notes with the men telling them to clear out of the area. None do, and all soon end up with large alterations to their breathing arrangements.
Carey, a slightly nuts in the head type uses a sniping rifle he used during the Spanish-American War in Cuba. Carey also takes a fancy to the local saloon keeper, Joanne Dru. Dru finds herself drawn to the hard man.
As the body count rises, some of the local people put out a call for a Federal Marshall. The town Sheriff, Tom Powers, does not seem all that interested in investigating.
Marshall John Ireland arrives in Pearl City to have a look into the killings. He digs around and figures that Carey is the main suspect. The killings started just after he arrived, and he is now flashing a large roll of cash. The cattlemen however want Carey to keep up his thinning of squatters etc. The cattlemen send another gunman, Don Haggerty to dispose of Ireland. Ireland though ends up filling Haggerty with lead instead.
Now we find out that Ireland and Miss Dru know each other from years before. Ireland had sent Dru's brother to prison for a long spell. Dru was sure that her brother was innocent. Ireland asks Dru to tell him all she might know about the latest shootings. Dru refuses to name Carey.
Matters come to a head when Carey shoots the young son, Peter Ireland, of the local stable owner. The shot was an accident, but it will not stop Carey from continuing on his job. Ireland follows Carey out of town and catches him loading up the sniping rifle. There is a bout of flying fist and boots with Carey getting the win with a knockdown. He saddles up and high tails it into the hills.
Ireland recovers and sets off in pursuit. The two exchange rifle rounds with Carey winging Ireland in the shoulder. He walks up to Ireland to polish him off. As he raises his rifle, a shot rings out and drops him. Miss Dru steps out from cover and approaches. Carey looks at her and smiles, then dies. Dru helps Ireland onto his horse and they both ride back to Pearl City.
This is a stark, brutal western that is a take on the Tom Horn story. The film was directed by cinematographer Lee Garmes with John Ireland doing several of the scenes. The four time Oscar nominated and one time winning Garmes was known for lensing films like, THE JUNGLE BOOK, SCARFACE, DETECTIVE STORY, ANGELS OVER Broadway, NIGHTMARE ALLEY, MAN WITH THE GUN and THE DESPERATE HOURS.
The writer, MacKinlay Kantor is best known for, THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES and the noir, GUN CRAZY.
Guns, fists, bottles, burning furniture and Miss Dru's upper works are just a few of the items thrust at the viewer because of the original 3-D format. Ireland and Dru were married at the time. Peter Ireland was John's son from a previous marriage.
This 1953 western was originally filmed in colour and 3-D. It was later released to television as "Outlaw Territory" in black and white in flat 2-d format. The film stars, MacDonald Carey, John Ireland, Joanne Dru, Tom Powers, Frank Ferguson, Don Haggerty and Peter Ireland. The screenplay was written by MacKinlay Kantor from his own novel, "Wicked Water".
The story starts out in the town of Pearl City, Colorado at the end of the 1890's. Gun for hire MacDonald Carey hits town looking for work. As it so happens, a group of local big ranch owners are in need of someone like him. They are having problems with squatters and rustlers taking their land and cattle.
Carey is offered 600 dollars a body and is supplied with a list of names. He is told that he must give the people named a chance to leave on their own. Carey leaves notes with the men telling them to clear out of the area. None do, and all soon end up with large alterations to their breathing arrangements.
Carey, a slightly nuts in the head type uses a sniping rifle he used during the Spanish-American War in Cuba. Carey also takes a fancy to the local saloon keeper, Joanne Dru. Dru finds herself drawn to the hard man.
As the body count rises, some of the local people put out a call for a Federal Marshall. The town Sheriff, Tom Powers, does not seem all that interested in investigating.
Marshall John Ireland arrives in Pearl City to have a look into the killings. He digs around and figures that Carey is the main suspect. The killings started just after he arrived, and he is now flashing a large roll of cash. The cattlemen however want Carey to keep up his thinning of squatters etc. The cattlemen send another gunman, Don Haggerty to dispose of Ireland. Ireland though ends up filling Haggerty with lead instead.
Now we find out that Ireland and Miss Dru know each other from years before. Ireland had sent Dru's brother to prison for a long spell. Dru was sure that her brother was innocent. Ireland asks Dru to tell him all she might know about the latest shootings. Dru refuses to name Carey.
Matters come to a head when Carey shoots the young son, Peter Ireland, of the local stable owner. The shot was an accident, but it will not stop Carey from continuing on his job. Ireland follows Carey out of town and catches him loading up the sniping rifle. There is a bout of flying fist and boots with Carey getting the win with a knockdown. He saddles up and high tails it into the hills.
Ireland recovers and sets off in pursuit. The two exchange rifle rounds with Carey winging Ireland in the shoulder. He walks up to Ireland to polish him off. As he raises his rifle, a shot rings out and drops him. Miss Dru steps out from cover and approaches. Carey looks at her and smiles, then dies. Dru helps Ireland onto his horse and they both ride back to Pearl City.
This is a stark, brutal western that is a take on the Tom Horn story. The film was directed by cinematographer Lee Garmes with John Ireland doing several of the scenes. The four time Oscar nominated and one time winning Garmes was known for lensing films like, THE JUNGLE BOOK, SCARFACE, DETECTIVE STORY, ANGELS OVER Broadway, NIGHTMARE ALLEY, MAN WITH THE GUN and THE DESPERATE HOURS.
The writer, MacKinlay Kantor is best known for, THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES and the noir, GUN CRAZY.
Guns, fists, bottles, burning furniture and Miss Dru's upper works are just a few of the items thrust at the viewer because of the original 3-D format. Ireland and Dru were married at the time. Peter Ireland was John's son from a previous marriage.
