Face of a Fugitive (1959)

A robber in custody, becomes wanted for murder when his younger brother kills a deputy sheriff to help him escape.

Director:

Paul Wendkos

Writers:

David T. Chantler (screenplay), Daniel B. Ullman (screenplay)

Stars:

Fred MacMurray, Lin McCarthy, Dorothy Green

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Fred MacMurray	...	Jim Larsen aka Ray Kincaid
Lin McCarthy	...	Sheriff Mark Riley
Dorothy Green	...	Ellen Bailey
Alan Baxter	...	Reed Williams
Myrna Fahey	...	Janet Hawthorne
James Coburn	...	Purdy
Francis De Sales	...	Deputy Sheriff George Allison (as Francis deSales)
Gina Gillespie	...	Alice Bailey
Ron Hayes	...	Danny Larsen
Paul E. Burns	...	Jake the Barber (as Paul Burns)

Storyline

A man who was falsly accused for murder escapes the sheriffs and starts a new life in a town at the border of the States to Mexico. But he cannot settle in peace as his chasers are trying to find him.

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Plot Keywords:

roadblock | barbershop | border town | fugitive | handcuffed | 

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Taglines:

DANGER SHADOWED EVERY STEP HE TOOK! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Drama | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Opening credits: The characters and incidents portrayed and the names used herein are fictitious, and any similarity to the name, character or history of any person is entirely accidental and unintentional.

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Goofs

When Jim meets up with Ellen at her buggy after the dance, tire tracks from modern vehicles can be seen on the ground.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[the train carrying the Deputy Sheriff and his prisoner, Jim Larsen, pulls into the depot at Porter]
Deputy Sheriff George Allison: We'll be in Porter for a few minutes. Want some air, Jim?
Jim Larsen: Why don't you get off without me?
Deputy Sheriff George Allison: I'd be lonely.

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Soundtracks

Sweet Betsy from Pike
(uncredited)
Written by John A. Stone

User Reviews

A little western, little known, with big ideas

If the big idea of "High Noon", which this movie resembles, was "Duty", then the big idea of "Face of a Fugitive" is "The Rule of Law". The plot hinges on a young sheriff's devotion to the law against the power of wealth and force ... and on a criminal who while trying to dodge the law, ends up defending it. Two lines stood out to me. In one, someone describes the sheriff as always reading his law books, "the way other men read the Bible". In the other notable line, the sheriff argues with his girlfriend that the law, not guns, must prevail, while the girlfriend says that he's wrong, that guns are more powerful. This movie suggests that both are correct, to a degree, but that ultimately, the law is both firmer and more generous, even to a fugitive.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

Justice Ends with a Gun

Filming Locations:

Sonora, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Morningside Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Eastman Color)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1