''Flaming Feather'' is a 1952 American
Technicolor Western film directed by
Ray Enright
Ray Enright (March 25, 1896 – April 3, 1965) was an American film director. He directed 73 films between 1927–53, many of them for Warner Bros. He oversaw comedy films like Joe E. Brown vehicles, five of the six informal pairings of Joa ...
and starring
Sterling Hayden. The film was shot on location around
Oak Creek Canyon near
Sedona, Arizona
Sedona ( ) is a city that straddles the county line between Coconino County, Arizona, Coconino and Yavapai County, Arizona, Yavapai counties in the northern Verde Valley region of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2010 United States Census, ...
, and at the
Montezuma Castle National Monument near Sedona. The local
Yavapai Indians, who were employed as extras on the production, refused to enter the cliff dwellings because they represented the "dwelling place of the dead." Consequently, production was delayed while a band of
Navajos was brought in from a reservation 137 miles (220.5 km) away, to replace them.
Plot
A mysterious outlaw, known only as the Sidewinder (
Victor Jory), is terrorizing Arizona settlers. A rancher whose property was raided, Tex McCloud (Hayden), and a U.S. Cavalry officer named Blaine (
Forrest Tucker) both decide to seek justice. They even make a friendly wager over which one will get to the Sidewinder first.
A wealthy saloon entertainer, Carolina (
Arleen Whelan
Arleen Whelan (September 1, 1916 – April 7, 1993) was an American film actress.
Early years
Whelan was a native of Salt Lake City, Utah. Before she became an actress, she worked in Southern California as a manicurist, contributing her ea ...
), tries to persuade Tex to also go after Lucky Lee, a mine owner who owes her $20,000. She also tries to seduce Tex, but he is not interested.
After he changes hotel rooms with Lucky's longtime sweetheart, Nora Logan (
Barbara Rush), an ambush is attempted by gambler Showdown Calhoun (
Richard Arlen) and his partner, who come to the wrong room. Nora is the one they are after, and she becomes a kidnap victim on the stagecoach. For the second time, though, Tex rides to her rescue.
Nora explains that she is involved with Lucky only out of gratitude for one saving her from a similar assault. Lucky offers a theory that Tombstone Jack is the notorious Sidewinder, but after Carolina sneaks up on Tombstone and kills him, Tex and Blaine begin to suspect that Lucky is the man they are after. Turquoise (
Carol Thurston), a
Ute woman who loves Lucky, knows for a fact he is the outlaw.
Now the marshal for the territory, Tex and a posse go after Lucky, who has snatched Nora and ridden off to a hideout. Lucky conspires with a band of Utes to attack the posse. Carolina and Showdown are killed. Tex and Blaine get to the hideout, but the jealous Turquoise has already killed Lucky, beating them to the punch. The men call off their wager.
Cast
*
Sterling Hayden as Tex McCloud
*
Forrest Tucker as Lt. Tom Blaine
*
Arleen Whelan
Arleen Whelan (September 1, 1916 – April 7, 1993) was an American film actress.
Early years
Whelan was a native of Salt Lake City, Utah. Before she became an actress, she worked in Southern California as a manicurist, contributing her ea ...
as Carolina
*
Barbara Rush as Nora Logan
*
Victor Jory as Lucky Lee aka Sidewinder
*
Richard Arlen as Eddie 'Showdown' Calhoun
*
Edgar Buchanan as Sgt. O'Rourke
*
Carol Thurston as Turquoise
*
Ian MacDonald as Tombstone Jack
*
George Cleveland as Doc Fallon
See also
*
Sterling Hayden filmography
References
External links
*
*
*
1952 films
1950s English-language films
1952 Western (genre) films
Films directed by Ray Enright
American Western (genre) films
Films scored by Paul Sawtell
1950s American films
English-language Western (genre) films
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