Calamity Jane and Sam Bass
Film poster
Directed byGeorge Sherman
Screenplay byMaurice Geraghty
Melvin Levy
Story byGeorge Sherman
Produced byLeonard Goldstein
StarringYvonne De Carlo
Howard Duff
Dorothy Hart
Willard Parker
Lloyd Bridges
CinematographyIrving Glassberg
Edited byEdward Curtiss
Color processTechnicolor
Production
company
Universal International Pictures
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release dates
  • July 14, 1949 (1949-07-14) (Los Angeles)
  • July 16, 1949 (1949-07-16) (New York City)
Running time
86 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Calamity Jane and Sam Bass is a 1949 American Western film directed by George Sherman and starring Yvonne De Carlo, Howard Duff and Dorothy Hart.[1]

Plot

Sheriff Will Egan doesn't want any gamblers in Denton, Texas and is suspicious when stranger Sam Bass arrives in town. The sheriff's sister Kathy likes the newcomer, though, while Calamity Jane is impressed with Sam's way with horses, even more so when Sam spots a poorly shod favorite in a horse race and bets against him, winning a tidy sum.

Sam buys the losing horse with his wager winnings and intends to race him. But when a hired guy poisons the horse, Sam shoots him. Sam tries to turn himself in, but feels he can't get a fair trial and busts out.

Sam becomes an outlaw, robbing banks. He believes Kathy has tricked him and turns to Jane.

He ends up shot, dying in Jane's arms, yet seemingly in love with Kathy.

Cast

Production

In March 1948 Universal announced they would make The Story of Sam Bass from a story by director George Sherman. It would be an expensive production in Technicolor shot on location in Kanab, Utah.[2] Jimmy Stewart was sought to play the title role.[3] The role eventually went to Howard Duff who had just come to notice in Brute Force (1947).

Universal decided to cast Yvonne De Carlo as the female lead. De Carlo was under contract to Universal at the time, and had just been entertaining US troops in Europe. She was reluctant to make the film as it was a Western, but did not want to go on suspension. (She had been briefly engaged to her co-star Howard Duff in April 1947.)[4] Dorothy Hart and Willard Parker signed to play support roles.[5]

Filming started 7 October 1948 in Kanab, Utah.[6] Johnson Canyon, Vermillion Cliffs, and the Gap were additional filming locations.[7]: 288 

It was the second film about Calamity Jane made that year, the other being The Paleface.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ H.R. (June 24, 1949). "Yvonne De Carlo, Howard Duff In New Technicolor Western". The Christian Science Monitor. p. 5.
  2. ^ "Outlaw Bass Maturing; Janis Carter to Europe". Los Angeles Times. May 12, 1948. p. 23.
  3. ^ "Looking at Hollywood". Chicago Daily Tribune. May 14, 1948. p. A1.
  4. ^ "Yvonne De Carlo May Brave Suspension, So She Can Return to Troops: GI's Show Needs Told by Actress Strong". Los Angeles Times. October 3, 1948. p. D1.
  5. ^ "ZUCKERMAN IS SET TO WRITE FOY FILM: He Will Do Scenario for Eagle Lion Producer for Movie With Counterfeiting Plot". The New York Times. October 5, 1948. p. 31.
  6. ^ "Howard Duff to Star Opposite De Carlo". Los Angeles Times. October 2, 1948. p. 8.
  7. ^ D'Arc, James V. (2010). When Hollywood came to town: A history of moviemaking in Utah (1st ed.). Layton, Utah: Gibbs Smith. ISBN 9781423605874.
  8. ^ "Calamity Jane Goes On and On Like Poet's Brook: Two Will Do Calamity Jane Role". Los Angeles Times. December 19, 1948. p. D1.

External links

Films directed by George Sherman
Categories