The Baron of Arizona (1950)

Master swindler James Reavis painstakingly spends years forging documents and land grants that will make his wife and him undisputed owners of the entire state of Arizona.

Director:

Samuel Fuller

Writer:

Samuel Fuller

Stars:

Vincent Price, Ellen Drew, Vladimir Sokoloff

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Vincent Price	...	James Addison Reavis 'The Baron'
Ellen Drew	...	Sofia de Peralta-Reavis 'The Baroness'
Vladimir Sokoloff	...	Pepito
Beulah Bondi	...	Loma
Reed Hadley	...	Griff
Robert Barrat	...	Judge (as Robert H. Barrat)
Robin Short	...	Lansing
Tina Pine	...	Rita (as Tina Rome)
Karen Kester	...	Sofia as a Child
Margia Dean	...	Marquesa
Jonathan Hale	...	Governor
Edward Keane	...	Surveyor General Miller
Barbara Woodell	...	Mrs. Carrie Lansing
I. Stanford Jolley	...	Mr. Richardson
Fred Kohler Jr.	...	Demmings

Storyline

The U.S. government recognizes land grants made when the West was under Spanish rule. This inspires James Reavis to forge a chain of historical evidence that makes a foundling girl the Baroness of Arizona. Reavis marries the girl and presses his claim to the entire Arizona territory.

---

Plot Keywords:

arizona territory | forged document | 1800s | arizona | swindler | 

---

Taglines:

WOMEN fought for his kisses! MEN clamored for his life!

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | Western

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 March 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der Baron von Arizona

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$135,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Deputy Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

James Addison Reavis (1843-1914) was a real person who, as depicted in the movie, was found guilty of attempting to steal most of Arizona by forging land grant documents. He paid a fine of $5,000 and served two years in jail.

---

Quotes

Rita, the Gypsy Dancer: Who are you?
James Addison 'The Baron' Reavis, aka Brother Anthony: A wanderer like Cain looking for a woman of my own.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Typewriter, the Rifle & the Movie Camera (1996)

User Reviews

A Genuine Oddity, Based on Fact

Judging from the title, probably more than a few ticket-buyers in 1950 expected a western. What they got instead was a real oddity that defies classification. It's sort of like a western, but instead of the bad guy grabbing off a ranch, this baddie (Price) wants to grab an entire state, Arizona. And he's not doing it with a gun or a gang. Instead he's doing it with years of legal fabrication and planning. Those early scenes showing him falsifying the legal groundwork are the movie's most interesting and unusual.

Despite the many novel moments, the movie's no triumph—Sam Fuller or no Sam Fuller. Lippert was a real cheapjack production company, and it shows, particularly in the skimpy sets and LA area locations. Then too, Fuller wobbles when helming love scenes (not his strength), especially with the really inept Gypsy girl (Pine) that's almost painful to watch. On the other hand, there's the lordly Vincent Price, perfectly cast in the domineering lead role. His verbal fencing with the government man (Hadley) is particularly well acted. Then there're the lynch mob scenes that are both intense and scary. Fuller is clearly at home with crowds and violence.

All in all, it's an interesting and different kind of movie, whatever its drawbacks, marking Fuller as a movie-maker to watch.