Raw Edgeis a 1956 AmericanTechnicolorwestern filmdirected by John Sherwood starringRory Calhoun,Yvonne De CarloandMara Corday.It was produced and distributed byUniversal Pictures.It marked the movie debut ofJohn Gavinunder the name "John Gilmore".
| Raw Edge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | John Sherwood |
| Screenplay by | Harry Essex Robert Hill |
| Story by | William Kozelenko James Benson Nablo |
| Produced by | Albert Zugsmith |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Maury Gertsman |
| Edited by | Russell F. Schoegarth |
| Color process | Technicolor |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 77 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
editThis film's plot summarymay betoo long or excessively detailed.(November 2018) |
In 1842, a wealthy Oregon man named Montgomery makes the rules, including one that any unmarried woman must go with whichever man puts in a claim for her. After his wife Hannah is attacked by an unseen man, Montgomery blames his rival, Dan Kirby. Dan's Indian wife Paca appeals to Hannah to save her husband but they are too late
Paca makes a break with Hannah to return to her people but is pursued. An Indian named Five Crows attempts to help but he is murdered. Paca is caught by a white man named Sile Doty, who forces her to return to his house as his property.
A stranger (Tex) rides arrives at the Montgomery ranch, asking for directions to Dan Kirby's ranch. Hannah tells him, but Tex finds Kirby dead. He heads into town and asks for work at the saloon. He's directed to Sile Doty's ranch.
There he meets his former sister-in-law Paca and reveals he is Kirby's brother, a former Texas Ranger. She explains that she is now the property of Doty and how Kirby was killed.
Tex vows revenge and waits for Montgomery to return. Tarp, his father, and the town gambler are supposed to warn Montgomery that Tex is coming for him. Indians are massing to avenge Five Crow's death, and Montgomery may be killed by them, so they head to his ranch to claim Hannah. Both argue over her.
The three descend on the Montgomery ranch and fight over Hannah who realises that Tarp Penny was the one who attacked her that night. Tex watches the scene unfold and ends up taking Hannah away.
Doty arrives with Paca at the survey site warning Montgomery that Tex is waiting for him and Indians are out for blood. Montgomery tells Paca to talk to the chief and guarantee his freedom to return to his ranch where he will give them the man that murdered Five Crows; if she won't help, he'll have her killed. He plans to frame Tex instead. Paca returns to talk to the chief.
Tarp chases Hannah and wounds her, then kills the gambler and his father. Tarp ends up in a shootout with Tex that turns into a violent fistfight after both run out of ammunition. Tex prevails when Tarp is accidentally impaled on a bison head's horns when it is knocked off the wall.
Montgomery is intercepted by an Indian party and taken to the chief. The chief promises to allow him to return to his ranch "after the ceremony." His body is dragged back to his ranch and Paca (now wearing Indian garb) rides off with the tribe, having avenged her husband's death.
Tex offers Hannah a chance to join him which she does.
Cast
edit- Rory Calhounas Tex Kirby
- Yvonne De Carloas Hannah Montgomery
- Mara Cordayas Paca
- Neville Brandas Tarp Penny
- Rex Reasonas John Randolph
- Emile Meyeras Pop Penny
- Herbert Rudleyas Gerald Montgomery
- Robert J. Wilkeas Sile Doty
- John Gavinas Dan Kirby (as John Gilmore)
- Gregg Bartonas McKay
- Ed Furyas Whitey
- William Schallertas Missionary
Production
editThe film was based on an original story byWilliam Kozlenkoand James Benson Nablo. It was bought by Universal in December 1954. They assignedAlbert Zugsmithto produce.[1]Kozlenko was hired to write the script.[2]By May 1955 Harry Essex was reported to be working on the script.[3]
By October 1955 the lead roles had been assigned to Rory Calhoun and Yvonne De Carlo. This was De Carlo's first film at Universal, the studio where she had been a star, since 1951.[4]
Filming took place in October 1955.[5]
References
edit- ^Phyllis Kirk-Lovejoy Team Forecast; George Murphy Gets New Power Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 13 Dec 1954: B9.
- ^3 CHOSEN TO STAR IN 'KISMET' MOVIE New York Times 20 Dec 1954: 33.
- ^Preminger Sets 'Golden Arm' Deal With Sinatra; Tolstoy Actors Cited Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 3 May 1955: B7.
- ^Raw Edge Next for De Carlo Parsons, Louella. The Washington Post and Times-Herald 8 Oct 1955: 46.
- ^Drama: 'Something of Value' Bid DNow Centers on Travers; John Williams Resuming Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 22 Oct 1955: 13.