Kit Carson is a 1940 Western film directed by George B. Seitz and starring Jon Hall as Kit Carson, Lynn Bari as Delores Murphy, and Dana Andrews as Captain John C. Frémont . This picture was filmed on location at Cayente (Kayenta), Arizona[1] and was one of the early films to use Monument Valley as a backdrop. The supporting cast features Ward Bond as a character named "Ape", future Lone Ranger Clayton Moore without his mask, and Raymond Hatton as Jim Bridger.
| Kit Carson | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | George B. Seitz John E. Burch (assistant) |
| Written by | Evelyn Wells |
| Screenplay by | George Bruce |
| Based on | newspaper serial by Evelyn Wells |
| Produced by | Edward Small |
| Starring | Jon Hall Lynn Bari Dana Andrews |
| Cinematography | John J. Mescall Robert Pittack |
| Edited by | William F. Claxton Fred R. Feitshans Jr. |
| Music by | Edward Ward |
Production company | Edward Small Productions |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 97 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
editThis article needs an improved plot summary. (March 2013) |
Kit Carson and his two saddle pals, Ape and Lopez are attacked by Indians. They manage to escape unscathed and make their way to Fort Bridger, where Captain John Fremont hires Carson to guide a wagon train westward to California south along the Oregon Trail. Both Carson and Fremont fall in love with pretty Dolores Murphy, on her way to her father's hacienda in Monterey. Meanwhile, General Castro, the Mexican Governor General of California, arms the Shoshone Indians in an effort to keep the Americans out of California.[2]
Cast
edit- Jon Hall as Kit Carson
- Lynn Bari as Dolores Murphy
- Dana Andrews as Captain John C. Frémont
- Harold Huber as Lopez
- Ward Bond as Ape
- Renie Riano as Miss Pilchard
- Clayton Moore as Paul Terry
- Rowena Cook as Alice Terry
- Raymond Hatton as Jim Bridger
- Harry Strang as Sergeant Clanahan
- C. Henry Gordon as General José Castro
- Lew Merrill as General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo
- Stanley Andrews as Thomas O. Larkin
- Edwin Maxwell as John Sutter
- George Lynn as James King (as Peter Lynn)
- William Farnum as Don Miguel Murphy
Production
editThe movie was one of several Edward Small made for United Artists. Victor McLaglen was originally announced for the title role,[3] and then Randolph Scott.[4] Joel McCrea and Henry Fonda were also named.[5]
Jon Hall had just made South of Pago Pago for Edward Small and was borrowed from Samuel Goldwyn Productions. Lynn Bari was borrowed from 20th Century Fox. Filming started on March 10, 1940.[6] It was shot on location near Kayenta, Arizona.[7]
The film was later remade as Frontier Uprising (1961).
Reception
editFilmink felt that Hall was not comfortable in the lead role but the film was "saved by its production values and support cast".[8]
References
edit- ^ "Kit Carson". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
- ^ "Kit Carson (1940) - George B. Seitz | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ DOUGLAS W. CHURCHILL (October 17, 1939). "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Metro Will Make Picture of 'Escape,' Novel About Actress Held in Concentration Camp JAMES STEWART FILM DUE Music Hall's 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Here Thursday --Another Opening Listed John Stahl Leaves Universal Role for Marjorie Rambeau". New York Times. p. 30.
- ^ DOUGLAS W. CHURCHILL (April 10, 1940). "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Metro Will Produce 'Escape,' With Norma Shearer and Robert Taylor in Leads TWO FILMS OPEN TODAY Dr. Cyclops' in Local Premiere at Paramount--Criterion Bills 'One Was Beautiful' Roosevelt Changes Plans Role for Humphrey Bogart". New York Times. p. 35.
- ^ "32 FILMS ON LIST OF UNITED ARTISTS: Pictures by Eleven Producers to Be Released by Company During 1939–40 Season LEAD FOR JASCHA HEIFETZ Will Star in Goldwyn's 'Music School'--'Rebecca' and 'My Son, My Son!' on Schedule Leslie Howard to Star "Of Mice and Men Listed"". New York Times. May 8, 1939. p. 23.
- ^ DOUGLAS W. CHURCHILL (May 1, 1940). "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Melvyn Douglas Gets Lead in Story of Refugee in Paris-- Wendy Barrie Signed NEW ITALIAN FILM TODAY Opens at Cine Roma--Helen Vinson Here After Playing in New Cagney Picture Of Local Origin". New York Times. p. 31.
- ^ "Hawaiian Plays Indian in Film". Los Angeles Times. September 20, 1940. p. A13.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (April 9, 2022). "The Campy, Yet Surprisingly Interesting Cinema of Jon Hall". Filmiink.
External links
edit- Kit Carson at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
- Kit Carson at IMDb
- Kit Carson at AllMovie
- Kit Carson at the TCM Movie Database