''Frontier Gal'' is a 1945 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 i ...
film directed by
Charles Lamont
Charles Lamont (May 5, 1895 – September 11, 1993) was a prolific filmmaker, directing over 200 titles and producing and writing many others. He directed several Abbott and Costello comedies and many Ma and Pa Kettle films.
Biography
A Calif ...
and starring
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 late ...
and
Rod Cameron.
Plot
Johnny Hart heads for Red Gulch, looking for the mystery man who murdered his partner. He quickly meets Lorena Dumont, a beautiful barkeep who is loved by Blackie, a jealous crook who doesn't like her interest in Johnny one bit.
After he resists her seduction by saying he has another girl back home, Johnny is forced to wed an angry Lorena at gunpoint. She then turns him over to the sheriff after learning that Johnny is a wanted fugitive with a price on his head. He escapes, spends a night of passion with Lorena, then is recaptured by the law.
Six years in prison later, Johnny returns to Red Gulch seeking revenge. He now knows Blackie's the one who killed his partner. Johnny's former girlfriend is summoned to meet him, but it turns out he fathered a child with Lorena who's now five years old. Blackie takes the little girl hostage, but Johnny kills him and reunites a grateful Lorena with their little girl.
Cast
*
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 late ...
as Lorena Dumont
*
Rod Cameron as Johnny Hart
*
Sheldon Leonard
Sheldon Leonard Bershad (February 22, 1907 – January 11, 1997) was an American film and television actor, producer, director, and screenwriter.
Early life
Sheldon Leonard Bershad was born in Manhattan, New York City, the son of middle-clas ...
as Blackie
*
Beverly Simmons Beverly or Beverley may refer to:
Places Australia
* Beverley, South Australia, a suburb of Adelaide
*Beverley, Western Australia, a town
*Shire of Beverley, Western Australia
Canada
* Beverly, Alberta, a town that amalgamated with the City of ...
as Mary Ann (as Beverly Sue Simmons)
*
Andy Devine
Andrew Vabre Devine (October 7, 1905 – February 18, 1977) was an American character actor known for his distinctive raspy, crackly voice and roles in Western films, including his role as Cookie, the sidekick of Roy Rogers in 10 feature f ...
as Big Ben
*
Fuzzy Knight
John Forrest "Fuzzy" Knight (May 9, 1901 – February 23, 1976) was an American film and television actor. He was also a singer, especially in his early career. He appeared in more than 180 films between 1928 and 1967, usually as a cowboy h ...
as Fuzzy
*
Andrew Tombes
Andrew Tombes (29 June 1885 – 17 March 1976) was an American comedian and character actor.
Biography
The son of a grocer, originally from Ashtabula, Ohio, Tombes was educated at Phillips Exeter Academy. Early in his career, he worked as a v ...
as Judge Prescott
*
Clara Blandick
Clara Blandick (born Clara Blanchard Dickey; June 4, 1876 – April 15, 1962) was an American character, film, stage and theater actress. She played Aunt Em in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's ''The Wizard of Oz'' (1939).
As a character actress, sh ...
as Abigail
*
Jan Wiley as Sheila Winthop
*
Frank Lackteen as Cherokee
* Jack Overman as Buffalo
Production
The film was to have starred
Maria Montez
María África Gracia Vidal (6 June 1912 – 7 September 1951), known professionally as Maria Montez, was a Dominican motion picture actress who gained fame and popularity in the 1940s starring in a series of filmed-in-Technicolor costume ...
and Rod Cameron. In April 1945 Montez refused to play the role.
She was replaced by
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 late ...
who had just played her first leading role in ''
Salome, Where She Danced
''Salome, Where She Danced'' is a 1945 American Technicolor western (genre), Western drama film directed by Charles Lamont and starring Yvonne De Carlo, Rod Cameron (actor), Rod Cameron and Walter Slezak. The film follows the adventures of a danc ...
''. De Carlo says Montez turned down the role because she did not want to work with Rod Cameron and did not want to play the mother of a young girl. De Carlo later wrote "the studio knew I would play opposite
Rin Tin Tin
Rin Tin Tin or Rin-Tin-Tin (September 1918 – August 10, 1932) was a male German Shepherd born in Flirey, France, who became an international star in motion pictures. He was rescued from a World War I battlefield by an American soldier, L ...
if they told me to, and would gladly agree to be the mother of the seven dwarfs."
Filming started in April.
The main villain role was meant to be played by Peter Coe. He had just received a medical discharge for the Marine Corps, and Universal became worried he was not up to it, so the role was given to
Alan Curtis. Then Curtis refused to play the role and he was replaced by
Sheldon Leonard
Sheldon Leonard Bershad (February 22, 1907 – January 11, 1997) was an American film and television actor, producer, director, and screenwriter.
Early life
Sheldon Leonard Bershad was born in Manhattan, New York City, the son of middle-clas ...
.
See also
*
List of American films of 1945
This is a list of American films that were released in 1945. In that year, the film ''The Lost Weekend'' won Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
Y
Z
D ...
References
External links
*
*
Review of filmat Variety
American Western (genre) films
1945 films
1945 Western (genre) films
Films directed by Charles Lamont
Films scored by Frank Skinner
1940s English-language films
1940s American films
{{1940s-Western-film-stub