Ramrod (1947)

Violent feud between Connie Dickason, the owner of the Circle 66 ranch and rancher Frank Ivey, the self-proclaimed boss of an otherwise public grazing land.

Director:

André De Toth (as Andre de Toth)

Writers:

Luke Short (by), Jack Moffitt (screenplay)

Stars:

Joel McCrea, Veronica Lake, Don DeFore

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joel McCrea	...	Dave Nash
Veronica Lake	...	Connie Dickason
Don DeFore	...	Bill Schell
Donald Crisp	...	Jim Crew
Preston Foster	...	Frank Ivey
Arleen Whelan	...	Rose Leland
Charles Ruggles	...	Ben Dickason (as Charlie Ruggles)
Lloyd Bridges	...	Red Cates
Nestor Paiva	...	Curley
Ray Teal	...	Ed Burma
Houseley Stevenson	...	George Smedley (as Housely Stevenson)
Ward Wood	...	Link Thoms (as Robert Wood)
Ian MacDonald	...	Walt Shipley
Wally Cassell	...	Virg Lea
Sarah Padden	...	Mrs. Parks

Storyline

A cattle-vs.-sheepman feud loses Connie Dickason her fiance, but gains her his ranch, which she determines to run alone in opposition to Frank Ivey, "boss" of the valley, whom her father Ben wanted her to marry. She hires recovering alcoholic Dave Nash as foreman and a crew of Ivey's enemies. Ivey fights back with violence and destruction, but Dave is determined to counter him legally... a feeling not shared by his associates. Connie's boast that, as a woman, she doesn't need guns proves justified, but plenty of gunplay results.

---

Plot Keywords:

ranch | wild west | american west | rancher | cattle rancher | 

---

Taglines:

"RAMROD" Deadlier than Steel

---

Genres:

Action | Romance | Western

---

Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

At the time of filming, Veronica Lake and director André De Toth were married. This film was their first screen collaboration.

---

Quotes

Connie Dickason: From now on, I'm going to make a life of my own. And, being a woman, I won't have to use guns.

User Reviews

Unexpectedly surprised by a class western

This 1947 western in black and white could have been just another mediocre Joel McCrea piece of sagebrush like the dozens of Randolph Scott movies I've watched. The thing with Scott was that you had to watch a lot to find the few masterpieces. For me this was Joel McCrea's best film that I've seen yet, or certainly as good as Guns in the Afternoon (aka Ride the High Country) in which he teamed with Randolph Scott which always gets outstanding reviews. McCrea is the man of dignity, pretty much in the vein of Henry Fonda, who strides tall throughout the picture, unflinching in his view of the 'right thing to do'. It's what we've come to expect of him, but he carries it well and you just know he has that strength. What was surprising was the performance of the diminutive Veronica Lake of the iconic hair style, although you only get a glimpse near the beginning of it. Here (married to director Andre De Toth during the making of the movie) she gives a steely performance of some skill, using her sexual allure to persuade men around her to do things according to her will, and very convincing she can be. Don DeFore an actor I've not seen before, impresses as a friend to help McCrea when he's in trouble and I'm surprised with all the movies I've seen that he somehow escaped me. The great Donald Crisp, Charlie Ruggles, Ray Teal and Lloyd Bridges all appear in convincing roles. A tough, adult western I can highly recommend.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 May 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ramrod

Filming Locations:

Enterprise Studios - 5300 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Enterprise Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1