Firecreek (1968)

A peace-loving, part-time Sheriff in the small town of Firecreek must take a stand when a gang of vicious outlaws takes over his town.

Director:

Vincent McEveety

Writer:

Calvin Clements Sr. (as Calvin Clements)

Stars:

James Stewart, Henry Fonda, Inger Stevens

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Stewart	...	Johnny Cobb
Henry Fonda	...	Bob Larkin
Inger Stevens	...	'Evelyn' / Evelyn Pittman
Gary Lockwood	...	Earl
Dean Jagger	...	Whittier
Ed Begley	...	Preacher Broyles
Jay C. Flippen	...	Mr. Pittman
Jack Elam	...	Norman
James Best	...	Drew
BarBara Luna	...	Meli (as Barbara Luna)
Jacqueline Scott	...	Henrietta Cobb
Brooke Bundy	...	Leah
Robert Porter	...	Arthur (as J. Robert Porter)
Morgan Woodward	...	Willard
John Qualen	...	Hall

Storyline

Farmer and family man Johnny Cobb moonlights as a two dollar a month Sheriff with a homemade badge in the quiet little town of Firecreek. When a gang of freebooters passes through, their leader Larkin, who is suffering from a minor wound, agrees to spend the night. The gang members prove to be vicious, sadistic sociopaths who take advantage of the frightened townspeople, humiliating them for their own perverse amusement. Although Larkin disapproves of their behavior, his leadership role is tenuous, and he is reluctant to test it by exercising control over his men. The mild-mannered Cobb faces a series of challenges from the gang's antisocial behavior. Things come to a head when Meli, an Indian woman with a mixed race child, incurs an attempted sexual attack by one of gang. Arthur, a simpleton stable boy, comes to her aid and accidentally kills the attacker. Cobb locks up Arthur to keep him safe, but when the Sheriff leaves town to visit his wife, who is struggling in labor, there is ...

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Plot Keywords:

place name in title | psychological western | sheriff | sociopath | psychopath | 

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Taglines:

JAMES STEWART -- HENRY FONDA MEET IN THE HEAT OF FIRECREEK (original ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1968 (UK)

Also Known As:

Die fünf Vogelfreien

Filming Locations:

Laramie Street, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Brothers/Seven Arts

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jimmy Stewart's revolver was a Colt M1909 double-action .45 Long Colt with an 1873 Colt ejector rod and shroud fitted to the side of the barrel to give the appearance of a single action revolver. Notice Stewart opened the cylinder out of the frame to check if it is loaded, the cylinder ejector rod and lanyard loop on the handle.

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Goofs

When leaving the church service that was held in the general store, as Johnny Cobb bids farewell to the preacher, the boom mike is visible in the store's door window.

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Quotes

Bob Larkin: You don't take after your Grandfather much in the way of talkin'. Not that I much complain when a woman keeps her mouth shut.
Evelyn Pittman: I find no complaint when a man does the same.

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Connections

Edited into La classe américaine (1993)

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Soundtracks

Bringing in the Sheaves
(uncredited)
Music by George A. Minor and lyrics by Knowles Shaw

User Reviews

Most definitely *not* a typical western.

First off, anyone calling this typical, cliché, or done-before wasn't really paying attention. I can't recall any other Western I have ever seen that is as personally intense. I believe if this was a Japanese movie involving samurai, the same reviewers saying as much would have been praising it and it would be hailed as an example of originality and how great many unappreciated Japanese films are.

To really get an idea of what you're going to watch when you watch this film, realize that it is closer to 12 Angry Men and The Crucible than it is to your typical shoot-em-up Western.

I believe that this is an excellent movie for student-actors to watch and study. Stewart and Fonda both deliver powerful, compelling performances. There roles are near perfect classic examples of protagonist and antagonist. Yet, while their respective roles as 'good guy' and 'bad guy' are familiar this is an ultra-intense dive into who their characters are, what has brought them to this point, and the gritty depths to which each is willing to plunge into themselves to win the day. Both characters are inextricably tied to their respective companions with both parallels and extreme contrasts as to why they are so heavily influenced by those around them. Yet each has a core integrity that *seems* unshakable despite constant challenges pushed upon them by the profound flaws that define their respective groups.

If you allow yourself to become immersed you'll discover an inglorious, unflattering, gritty hero versus villain tale unlike the vast majority of movies that exist in any genre, let alone Westerns. A dry, dusty, brutal struggle for survival in an isolated Western scenario. It gives you little hope for positive resolution throughout. You can feel the tension and you'll cringe at what seems inevitable tragedy. Unique, gritty, and intense, I claim without hesitation that this is one of the best Westerns of all time.