Ride the High Country (1962)

An ex-union soldier is hired to transport gold from a mining community through dangerous territory. But what he doesn't realize is that his partner and old friend is plotting to double-cross him.

Director:

Sam Peckinpah

Writer:

N.B. Stone Jr.

Stars:

Joel McCrea, Randolph Scott, Mariette Hartley

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Randolph Scott	...	Gil Westrum
Joel McCrea	...	Steve Judd
Mariette Hartley	...	Elsa Knudsen
Ron Starr	...	Heck Longtree
Edgar Buchanan	...	Judge Tolliver
R.G. Armstrong	...	Joshua Knudsen
Jenie Jackson	...	Kate
James Drury	...	Billy Hammond
L.Q. Jones	...	Sylvus Hammond
John Anderson	...	Elder Hammond
John Davis Chandler	...	Jimmy Hammond
Warren Oates	...	Henry Hammond

Storyline

Aging ex-marshal Steve Judd is hired by a bank to transport a gold shipment through dangerous territory. He hires an old partner, Gil Westrum, and his young protege Heck to assist him. Steve doesn't know, however, that Gil and Heck plan to steal the gold, with or without Steve's help. On the trail, the three get involved in a young woman's desire to escape first from her father, then from her fiance and his dangerously psychotic brothers.

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Plot Keywords:

miner | rifle | prostitute | horse | ambush | 

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Taglines:

Showdown in the High Sierra!

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Genres:

Drama | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mariette Hartley's hair was cut short from playing Joan of Arc on stage in Chicago. For the screen test, the studio put her in a long wig, closely matching her natural red hair, that Deborah Kerr wore in Quo Vadis (1951). Sam Peckinpah hated it. She used her own close-cropped look for the film.

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Goofs

When Gil pours the judge the drink, his hand changes position on the bottle between shots, the hat on the bed also changes from old and having a dent to being in mint condition.

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Quotes

Steve Judd: I don't want them to see this. I'll go it alone.

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Crazy Credits

Introducing Mariette Hartley

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Connections

Referenced in Passion & Poetry: Peckinpah Anecdotes (2017)

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Soundtracks

For She's a Jolly Good Fellow
(uncredited)
Traditional
Sung at the wedding

User Reviews

Honorable Joel McCrea and greedy Randolph Scott team up in this flick deemed a classic movie

A Bank assigns to veteran with noble purposes named Steve Judd (Joel McCrea) a dangerous mission , guarding a gold shipment . He hires an old friend gunfighter named Gil Westrum (Randolph Scott in his last movie) alongside a young pal (Starr), the trio join forces against risks and enemies . In the journey pick up a beautiful girl named Elsa (Mariette Hartley in his first movie) , daughter of a tyrant (R.G.Armstrong) and puritan old man . Elsa goes to marry to Billy Hammond (James Drury) in a ceremony celebrated by a boozy judge (Edgar Buchanan) . But she flees and is pursued by Billy's brothers (John Anderson,Warren Oates,LQ Jones and James Davies Chandler) . Meanwhile , respectable Joel McCrea justly to make a correct job , is double-crossed by his partners .

The picture is based on an interesting novel titled ¨Guns in the afternoon¨ by W. Stone . It was shot in California where is developed the plot and occurs the Western events although in limited budget . Two old men , tough Scott and upright McCrea , similarly their veteran characters play with great feeling and lyricism . The movie contains flawless performances , adventure , shootouts , villainy , romance and heroism with a terrific climax final including a mortal duel . The picture is a poem about the twilight Western and results to be a prophecy on the Western genre's downfall . This classic story comes to life enriched in color magnificence , splendidly photographed in Widescreen Metrocolor by Lucien Ballard although at the Television set loses its splendor . Besides , an evocative Western musical score by George Bassman . The two protagonists decided to leave the cinema business , but they retired with an excellent film , though Joel McCrea starred some film more for his son Jody McCrea . The motion picture is magnificently directed by Sam Peckimpah , an expert director and writer.

Sam Peckimpah , after beginning his career as a writer , he was soon involved in TV Westerns . Filming popular Western as ¨Rifleman¨ , ¨Westener¨ , and ¨Gunsmoke¨ . Moving into pictures in 1961 giving fine impression with ¨Deadly companions¨ starred by Brian Keith and Mauren O'Hara . After that , he did the prestigious ¨Ride the high county¨ that along with ¨Wild Bunch¨ , at the peak of his popularity , remain Sam's best films . Later on , he made ¨Major Dundee¨ that was heavily re-cutting . He subsequently filmed tougher-than-tough action movies , including gushing blood and guts with particular images in slow-moving , such as : ¨The getaway¨ , ¨the killer elite¨, the most popular ¨Straw dogs¨ , Convoy¨, and ¨The Osterman weekend¨ , until his early death .

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Chinese

Release Date:

9 May 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

Guns in the Afternoon

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$813,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1