The Far Country
| The Far Country | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster by Reynold Brown | |
| Directed by | Anthony Mann |
| Produced by | Aaron Rosenberg |
| Written by | Borden Chase |
| Starring | James Stewart Ruth Roman Walter Brennan |
| Music by | Joseph Gershenson |
| Cinematography | William H. Daniels |
| Edited by | Russell F. Schoengarth |
Production company | Universal International |
| Distributed by | Universal International |
Release date |
|
Running time | 97 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $2.5 million (US)[1] |
The Far Country is a 1954 American Technicolor Western romance film directed by Anthony Mann starring James Stewart, Ruth Roman, and Walter Brennan. Written by Borden Chase, the film is about a self-minded adventurer who locks horns with a crooked lawman while driving cattle to Dawson. It is one of the few Westerns, along with The Spoilers and North to Alaska, to be set (not filmed) in Alaska.[2] This is the fourth Western film collaboration between Anthony Mann and James Stewart.
Contents
[hide]Plot[edit]
In 1896, Jeff Webster (James Stewart) hears of the Klondike gold rush and he and friend Ben Tatem (Walter Brennan) decide to drive a herd of cattle to Dawson City. on the way, he annoys self-appointed Skagway judge Gannon (John McIntire) by interrupting a hanging, so the "lawman" confiscates his herd. Jeff and Ben steal the animals back and take off with Gannon and his men in hot pursuit. After crossing the border into Canada, Jeff uses a few well-placed warning shots to persuade Gannon's gang to give up the chase, but the judge promises a hot reception when Jeff returns.
When Jeff gets to Dawson, he finds widespread (though relatively peaceful) lawlessness, and ignores it as none of his business. He auctions off his herd to new arrival Ronda Castle (Ruth Roman), a tramp and one of Gannon's business associates, when she outbids Hominy (Connie Gilchrist), Grits (Kathleen Freeman) and Molasses (Connie Van), co-owners of the local hash house. Both Ronda and French-Canadian gamine Renee Vallon (Corinne Calvet) are strongly attracted to Jeff.
Ronda sets up a saloon in partnership with Gannon and begins cheating the miners out of their claims. Gannon and his gunmen show up to grab their share (and then some), making Dawson much more dangerous. Jeff stays out of it, instead planning to sneak out by river while Gannon is otherwise occupied. However, Gannon is tipped off when Ben buys extra coffee for the long trip; his men kill Ben and wound Jeff, finally forcing him to take sides.
Jeff calls Gannon out to settle the dispute man to man, but the villain arranges an ambush. Ronda rushes out to warn Jeff and is fatally shot in the back. Jeff kills Gannon in the ensuing gunfight and the rest of his gang surrender to the fed-up longtime residents.
Cast[edit]
- James Stewart as Jeff Webster
- Ruth Roman as Ronda Castle
- Walter Brennan as Ben Tatem
- Corinne Calvet as Renee Vallon
- John McIntire as Judge Gannon
- Jay C. Flippen as Marshal Rube Morris
- Harry Morgan as Ketchum
- Steve Brodie as Ives
- Connie Gilchrist as Hominy
- Robert J. Wilke as Madden
- Chubby Johnson as Dusty
- Royal Dano as Luke
- Jack Elam as Newberry
- Kathleen Freeman as Grits
- Connie Van as Molasses[3]
Historical background[edit]
The character of Gannon may be loosely based on that of Soapy Smith, a confidence artist and gang leader who ran the town of Skagway during the Alaska Gold Rush. He was killed in a gunfight, although not as shown in the movie.
Production[edit]
- Filming locations
- Athabasca Glacier, Alberta, Canada
- Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada[4]
Reception[edit]
Stewart took a percentage of the profits. In 1955 William Goetz estimated that Stewart had earned $300,000 from the film.[5]
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