Pony Express Rider (1976)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Robert Totten

Writers:

Dan Greer (written by)
Hal Harrison Jr. (written by)

Release Date:

November 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

A young Texan pursues his father's killers and faces the ultimate challenge.

Plot:

A young Texas Man who saw his father get killed by a group of bandits, decides years later to go to work for the Pony Express...

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film

Cast

Stewart Petersen	...	Jimmie D. Richardson
Henry Wilcoxon	...	Trevor Kingman
Buck Taylor	...	Bovey Kingman
Maureen McCormick	...	Rose of Sharon
Ken Curtis	...	Jed Richardson
Joan Caulfield	...	Charlotte
Slim Pickens	...	Bob Jay
Dub Taylor	...	Boomer Riley
Ace Reid	...	Bullfrog Fry
Jack Elam	...	Crazy Charlie
Larry D. Mann	...	Blackmore
James Almanzar	...	Puddin
Bea Morris	...	Marquette Richardson
Tom Waters	...	Button Forehand
Cliff Brand	...	Captain Billings

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (as De Luxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Doty-Dayton Production

Soundtrack:

There's a New World Waitin'

Special meaning for me

I was 14 years old when I had the opportunity to watch part of this film being made in Kerrville, Texas. My cousins and I spent several weeks during the summer of 1976 at my grandfather's house that was used as the Nevada governor's mansion. All of the actors were great to be around. The only person who was not friendly was Maureen McCormick, but she had just finished the Brady Bunch and was the "star". At the party after the premiere I had a chance to talk with Ken Curtis about his acting career - he told me of the blessing and the cure of being "Festus". I ran into Buck Taylor about six years after the movie and not only did he remember me but for several years thereafter we hang out when he was in town.

Most of the rest of the film was shot in and around the Texas Hill Country. The Kingman XXX Ranch was shot at the YO Ranch in Mountain Home, Texas. The YO is still in operation as a ranch and is also an exotic game ranch.

The film has the feel of an episode of `Gunsmoke' because the director Bob Totten directed many shows of that series.

So, yes the acting is bad, the photography is dark but for me this film is a classic as it takes me back to that time in 1976 when all was still good in my world.