The Hallelujah Trail (1965)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

John Sturges

Writers:

William Gulick (novel)
John Gay (screenplay)

Release Date:

23 June 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Western

Tagline:

See How The West Was Fun!

Plot:

A wagon train heads for Denver with a cargo of whisky for the miners. Chaos ensues as the Temperance League...

Plot Keywords:

Sergeant | Whiskey | Native American | Beautiful Woman | Based On Novel

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Burt Lancaster	...	Col. Thaddeus Gearhart
Lee Remick	...	Cora Templeton Massingale
Jim Hutton	...	Capt. Paul Slater
Pamela Tiffin	...	Louise Gearhart
Donald Pleasence	...	'Oracle' Jones
Brian Keith	...	Frank Wallingham
Martin Landau	...	Chief Walks-Stooped-Over
John Anderson	...	Sgt. Buell
Tom Stern	...	Kevin O'Flaherty
Robert J. Wilke	...	Chief Five Barrels
Dub Taylor	...	Clayton Howell
Whit Bissell	...	Hobbs
Helen Kleeb	...	Henrietta
Val Avery	...	Denver bartender
Noam Pitlik	...	Interpreter

Also Known As:

John Sturges' The Hallelujah Trail (UK) (complete title) (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

165 min | 156 min (TCM print) | USA:146 min (Cinemax) | West Germany:134 min (cut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:PG (TV rating) | Norway:12 | West Germany:6 (nf) | USA:Approved (certificate #20607) | Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:11 | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Mirisch Corporation, The

Trivia:

During location shooting in New Mexico the crew was confronted with the heaviest rainfalls in that region in 50 years. It washed away the tents as well as the set and props.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Col. Gearhart comes back to his shave after confronting Cora in her bath the trooper acting as barber puts shaving soap in selected spots on his face. When they go to a full face shot of the Col. his chin is fully lathered and then the lather is only in selected spots again as they cut back to the side view.

Quotes:

Capt. Paul Slater: Protect both rears simultaneously!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (#4.21)" (1991)

A silly mad mess of fun!

This has always been one of my favourite films. But it really is such a mess.

The acting is so wonderfully over the top. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves sending up every possible western myth!

The stunning look of the film, which must have been breathtaking in UltraPanavision 70mm, the beautiful rousing score a cast of thousands and a script that is truly awful!

All these elements just don't come together but the individual scenes often do.

I am lucky enough to own the original 1960s sountrack album and theater progam. The theater program is in the Cinerama aspect ratio!

It is one of those big,long, brassy 60s comedies that are very hit and miss. But somehow despite the concoction not quite coming off I just find myself giggling all the way through.

Whether it is Burt Lancaster being gruff, or the achingly beautiful Lee Reemick being difficult or Martin Landau being not quite as silly as he looks this film remains one in my guilty pleasure collection!