The Hallelujah Trail (1965)

On its way to Denver, a cargo of whiskey destined for the miners, is sought after by the Temperance League, the U.S. Cavalry, the local Indians and the miners themselves.

Director:

John Sturges

Writers:

William Gulick (novel) (as Bill Gulick), John Gay (screenplay)

Stars:

Burt Lancaster, Lee Remick, Jim Hutton

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Burt Lancaster	...	Col. Thaddeus Gearhart
Lee Remick	...	Cora Templeton Massingale
Jim Hutton	...	Capt. Paul Slater
Pamela Tiffin	...	Louise Gearhart
Donald Pleasence	...	'Oracle' Jones
Brian Keith	...	Frank Wallingham
Martin Landau	...	Chief Walks-Stooped-Over
John Anderson	...	Sgt. Buell
Tom Stern	...	Kevin O'Flaherty
Robert J. Wilke	...	Chief Five Barrels
Dub Taylor	...	Clayton Howell
Whit Bissell	...	Hobbs
Helen Kleeb	...	Henrietta
Val Avery	...	Denver bartender
Noam Pitlik	...	Interpreter

Storyline

A wagon train heads for Denver with a cargo of whisky for the miners. Chaos ensues as the Temperance League, the US cavalry, the miners and the local Indians all try to take control of the valuable cargo.

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Plot Keywords:

miner | u.s. cavalry | indian war | slapstick comedy | whiskey | 

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Taglines:

CINERAMA sends you roaring with laughter and adventure down that wide and wonderful fun-trail!

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Genres:

Comedy | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to screenwriter John Gay, Doris Day was interested in the role that ultimately went to Lee Remick.

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Goofs

Col Gearhart threatens to send the army band to Alaska, but Alaska was only purchased from Russia in March of the year the film is set (1867). It is unlikely that Alaska would have been an option for a posting quite so quickly.

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Quotes

Col. Thaddeus Gearhart: [sitting in a bathtub when Mrs. Massingale enters his tent] Madam, I'm bathing!
Cora Templeton Massingale: The sight of a man bathing is not foreign to a woman widowed three times.
Col. Thaddeus Gearhart: You will pardon me if I don't rise.

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Connections

Referenced in To Tell the Truth: Episode dated 9 November 1964 (1964)

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Soundtracks

Hallelujah Trail
Written by Elmer Bernstein and Ernie Sheldon

User Reviews

A Wonderful Triumph, A Sure Cure for Depression

While others find this glorious Western flawed, I only see one of the most comical motion pictures of all time. Most of the lead actors have never done comedy so well; each is hilarious, a credit to the writing. The music is superb and the (uncredited) voice of the great John Dehner narrating a frankly preposterous fictional set of clashes as though they were embarrassing history is a triumph. With such memorable lines as "Not on my bear rug!" to "... and I hate the Indians!" to a simple "Oh dear" to "...and a good Republican", this is a classic to treasure and watch again and again.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 June 1965 (USA)

Also Known As:

John Sturges' The Hallelujah Trail

Filming Locations:

Portal, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kappa, The Mirisch Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

165 min 156 min (TCM print) 146 min (Cinemax) 134 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1