Writer: MacKinlay Kantor (Screenplay), Alford Van Ronkel (Story?)
Producer: Jack Broder, Lee Garmes
Co-Producer: John Ireland
Cinematographer: Lee Garmes
Editor: Edward Sampson, Chester W. Schaeffer
Sound: James Masterson (Recordist), Earl Snyder (Engineer)
Assistant Director: Ben Chapman
2nd Assistant Director: Gordon McLean
Music: Paul Dunlap
Art Direction: A. Leslie Thomas
Special Effects: Jack Rabin, Ben Southland
Stunts: Chuck Roberson (Macdonald Carey's stunt double)
Production Company: Jack Broder Productions Inc.
General Release Date: 27 June 1953
Cast
Macdonald Carey as Bus Crow
Joanne Dru as Hannah Lee (Hallie McLaird)
John Ireland as Marshal Sam Rochelle
Tom Powers as Sheriff
Ralph Dumke as Alesworth
Stuart Randall as Jeff Montgomery
Frank Ferguson as John Britton
Don Haggerty as Bill Crashaw
Peter Ireland as Willie Stiver
Tristram Coffin as Paulson, Bartender
Alex Pope as Gare Stiver
Kay Riehl as Mrs. Bainbridge
Ruth Whitney as Mrs. Stiver
Dean Cromer as Charlie Bevan
Alan Frazier as Bart, Hotel Desk Clerk
Harold J. Kennedy as Bainbridge
James Bell as Man at Carousel in Prologue (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks as Man Dancing with Hallie (uncredited)
King Donovan as Sheriff's Deputy (uncredited)
Dick Fortune as 2nd Cowboy (uncredited)
Alex Frazer as Old Man (uncredited)
Frank Hagney as Fred (uncredited)
Bill Hale as 1st Cowboy (uncredited)
Charles Keane as 2nd Loafer (uncredited)
Paul Keast as 1st Villager (uncredited)
Donald Kerr as Blackjack Dealer (uncredited)
Norman Leavitt as Miller (uncredited)
Anne Loos as Sheriff's Wife (uncredited)
Joe McGuinn as 3rd Villager (uncredited)
Mort Mills as Doctor (uncredited)
Robin Morse as 2nd Villager (uncredited)
'Snub' Pollard as Man Pacing in Jail Cell (uncredited)
Maudie Prickett as Mrs. Miller (uncredited)
Chuck Roberson as Cowboy (uncredited)
Helen Servis as Woman (uncredited)
Ferris Taylor as Stationmaster (uncredited)
Crane Whitley as Barfly (uncredited)
Plot
A professional killer rides into town and is hired by three cattlemen to remove squatters by force. A marshal is sent to investigate and the saloon owner becomes a reluctant witness.
Review
Watched a very blurry 2D version on YouTube. A reasonable storyline was played fairly well by a good cast, with Macdonald Carey standing out as the bad guy. There is not much focus on the Hannah Lee of the title and 'An American Primitive' might make more sense in the original story than it did on screen. A watchable fare, but nothing too spectacular.
Interesting Additional Information
Made in 3-D. This was a technique that was used quite a lot in Sci-fi films in the 1950s, but rarely in Westerns. There is a trailer with the stars talking about 3-D.
The song 'Hannah Lee' is sung at various stages in the film, sometimes to comic effect. The song was written by Stan Jones who sings it in the film with William Loe and Dick Cherney. The original recorded version by Ken Curtis and The Pioneers is also in the soundtrack. The words to the song suggest that Hannah Lee is hanged for murder, which does not happen in the film.
Stan Jones also wrote the song '(Ghost) Riders in the Sky'.
Stan Jones on guitar, with William Loe and Dick Cherney.
Title Screens
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