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poster of Colorado Territory
Rating: 6.8/10 by 62 users

Colorado Territory (1949)

After escaping from jail, outlaw Wes McQueen is convinced by his old partner in crime to do one last heist.

Directing:
  • Raoul Walsh
Writing:
  • Edmund H. North
  • John Twist
  • W.R. Burnett
Stars:
Release Date: Sat, Jun 11, 1949

Rating: 6.8/10 by 62 users

Alternative Title:
La Fille du désert - FR
Vogelfrei - DE

Country:
United States of America
Language:
English
Runtime: 01 hour 34 minutes
Budget: $0
Revenue: $0

Plot Keyword: gunslinger, sheriff, ambush, stolen money, colorado, u.s. marshal, fugitive, on the run, stage coach, double cross, stagecoach robbery, train robbery, money bag, heist gone wrong, escape from jail, colorado territory, stunt riding, female outlaw, loyal wife, blaze of glory, western noir, jailbreak, cowboys and outlaws, marshal western, money heist
Subtitle   Wallpaper   Watch Trailer    

Joel McCrea
Wes McQueen
Virginia Mayo
Colorado Carson
Dorothy Malone
Julie Ann Winslow
Henry Hull
Fred Winslow
John Archer
Reno Blake
Morris Ankrum
United States Marshal
Basil Ruysdael
Dave Rickard ('The Old Man')
Frank Puglia
Brother Tomas
Ian Wolfe
Homer Wallace
Carl Andre
(uncredited)
George Bell
(uncredited)
Oliver Blake
(uncredited)
Monte Blue
US Marshal (uncredited)
Ben Corbett
(uncredited)
Jack Daley
(uncredited)
Bert Dillard
(uncredited)
Robert Filmer
(uncredited)
Carl Harbaugh
(uncredited)
Hallene Hill
(uncredited)
Charles Horvath
(uncredited)
Fred Kelsey
(uncredited)
Victor Kilian
(uncredited)
Paul Kruger
(uncredited)
James Mitchum
(uncredited)
Jack Montgomery
(uncredited)
Merlyn Nelson
(uncredited)
Artie Ortego
(uncredited)
Joe Phillips
(uncredited)
Maudie Prickett
(uncredited)
Frosty Royce
(uncredited)
Phil Schumacher
(uncredited)
Harry Strang
(uncredited)
Glen Thompson
(uncredited)

John Chard

Territorial Doom. Colorado Territory is directed by Raoul Walsh and adapted to screenplay by Edmund H. North and John Twist from the novel "High Sierra" written by W.R. Burnett. It stars Joel McCrea, Virginia Mayo, Dorothy Malone and Henry Hull. Music is by David Buttolph and cinematography by Sidney Hickox. Raoul Walsh remakes his own High Sierra from 1941 but supplants it into a Western genre setting - with tremendous results. McCrea plays outlaw Wes McQueen who springs from prison and vows to go straight, but with a price on his head he is coerced into one last railroad robbery. If he can escape the law then he can make a go of it as a new man, with a new name, and comforted by a new found love of a good woman, Colorado Carson (Mayo). Can he escape the law and those who would sell him out for money? A remake of a classic film noir, Colorado Territory is itself classic film noir. Whilst not reaching the dizzying star heights of Bogart's 41 version, this is a film of great strengths. Thematically it's noir gold dust, the great Walsh not pandering to anyone and ensuring the dark edges of Burnett's novel play out on screen - including the shattering finale. The photography is grade "A", both in chiaroscuro textures and sumptuous location framings. Cast can't be faulted either, McCrea a genuine horseman is firmly at home in a Western setting, Mayo and Malone positively light and sex up the screen, while classy performer Hull lends weighty support. High end Western staples are adhered to, with robbery actions, fights, stunts, villainous betrayals and back stabbers, these marry up to the noirish cement of a man unable to escape his fate, his past weighing heavy on his shoulders, all ensuring there's constantly a doom laden feel permeating the story. Rarely mentioned when talk turns to film noir Westerns, but it should be since it's one of the best. 9/10


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