''Silver City'' is a 1951 American

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

film directed by

Byron Haskin Byron Conrad Haskin (April 22, 1899 – April 16, 1984) was an American film and television director, special effects creator and cinematographer. He is best known for directing '' The War of the Worlds'' (1953), one of many films where he ...

and starring

Edmond O'Brien Eamon Joseph O'Brien (September 10, 1915 – May 9, 1985) was an American actor and film director. His career spanned almost 40 years, and he won one Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. O'Brien w ...

Yvonne De Carlo Margaret Yvonne Middleton (September 1, 1922January 8, 2007), known professionally as Yvonne De Carlo, was a Canadian-American actress, dancer and singer. She became a Hollywood film star in the 1940s and 1950s, made several recordings, and later ...

, and

Barry Fitzgerald William Joseph Shields (10 March 1888 – 14 January 1961), known professionally as Barry Fitzgerald, was an Irish stage, film and television actor. In a career spanning almost forty years, he appeared in such notable films as ''Bringing Up Ba ...

. It was adapted from the 1947 novel ''High Vermilion'' by Luke Short, and was released under that title in the UK.

Plot

When the mining office of Charlie Storrs is robbed by two bandits, his right-hand man Larkin Moffatt gives chase. Larkin catches up to the riders, but then rides off, never to return. A furious Charlie fires him and spreads the word that Larkin is not a man to be trusted. Another very interested party is Josephine Storrs, who once was Larkin's woman but has recently married Charlie instead. In the town of Silver City, where he is not known, Larkin settles down and opens a mining assayer's office. Candace Surrency is pleased when Larkin confirms the value of the ore sample she brought him, but distressed because her dad, Dutch, is leasing the mine and has just 12 days to get while he can before mineral rights revert to the already rich and wealthy RR Jarboe. Candace's foreman is beaten by a henchman of Jarboe's. She tries to get Larkin to work for her, but he declines. Into town ride Charlie and Jo, curious about Silver City mining opportunities. They are shocked to find Larkin there. It soon becomes clear that Jo only married Charlie for his money, not for love. Charlie helps turn Jarboe against Larkin. Jarboe's men sabotage the mine. Candace continues to plead for Larkin's help, but he resists. He does explain that he indeed was in on the robbery, planning it as a way to get more money for the greedy Jo, until a guilty conscience led him to leave for good, not spending the stolen loot. In a final gunfight, Larkin is able to shoot two of Jarboe's henchmen. The only casualty is Candace's father, Dutch. As soon as the law can restore order, Larkin intends to see if he and Candace can become business partners and more.

Cast

Production

The film was based on the 1947 novel ''High Vermillion''. (This was reprinted in 1949 as ''Hands Off''.) In February 1951 film rights were bought by producer Nat Holt who hired Frank Gruber to do a script. The title was changed to ''Silver City'' and

was signed to star.

Rhonda Fleming Rhonda Fleming (born Marilyn Louis; August 10, 1923 – October 14, 2020) was an American film and television actress and singer. She acted in more than 40 films, mostly in the 1940s and 1950s, and became renowned as one of the most glamoro ...

was originally announced as O'Brien's costar. However by late March 1951, Yvonne de Carlo signed to play the female lead. "It's a very real, believable character," she said. Her fee by this stage was $50,000 a film. Filming started on 30 April 1951 by which stage the title had been changed to ''Silver City''. De Carlo later made another film for Holt at Paramount, '' Hurricane Smith'' (1952).

Reception

The ''Los Angeles Times'' said the storyline was occasionally "baffling" but the film was full of "heaps of novel and exciting incidents".ACTION AND ROMANCE KEYNOTE 'SILVER CITY' Los Angeles Times 21 Dec 1951: B6.

References

External links

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Silver City
at Letterbox DVD {{DEFAULTSORT:Silver City 1951 films 1951 Western (genre) films American Western (genre) films Films based on Western (genre) novels Films directed by Byron Haskin Paramount Pictures films Films scored by Paul Sawtell 1950s English-language films 1950s American films English-language Western (genre) films